TCGplayer founder Hampson says he’s stepping down as CEO at week’s end

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The man who founded TCGplayer of Syracuse announced that he’s stepping down as CEO on Friday and leaving the company.

In a Monday Facebook post, Chedy Hampson says he “happily poured my life force” into building TCGplayer over the past 25 years, aiming to create “an incredible positive impact on local brick-and-mortar hobby stores, the broader collectibles community and the city of Syracuse.”

Hampson went on to say, “I absolutely love TCGplayer and its mission; I always have and I always will.”

His decision to step down comes about five months after eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) completed its acquisition of TCGplayer for a total deal value of up to about $295 million.

San Jose, California–based eBay specializes in global commerce “that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world,” per its announcement. It describes TCGplayer as a “trusted marketplace for collectible card game enthusiasts.” The company is located at 440 S. Warren St. in Syracuse.

Moving forward, Hampson wrote that he plans to spend time on himself, along with friends, family, and community while “experiencing many of the important things in life that I have forgone while focusing solely on TCGplayer all these years,” per his Facebook post.

He wrote that he leaves knowing that the company “captured the magic” of the local hobby shop along with the “love of its incredibly diverse community and recreated that spirit” within a tech company that has grown to 600 passionate people.

Hampson also wrote that he believes TCGplayer and eBay leadership are “fully dedicated” to the foundational mission of TCGplayer and will “hold tight its Core Values” as they name his successor.

“It’s been a pleasure building a company right here in Syracuse these last two decades. And know that even as I step aside, TCGplayer remains committed to supporting and growing our collectibles community alongside our commitment to Syracuse,” Hampson said.

TCGplayer also provided CNYBJ with a statement about Hampson’s upcoming departure.

“Since the company’s founding, Chedy has helped transform the collectibles industry, guiding TCGplayer through many milestones, including its 2022 acquisition by eBay. The leadership team is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for all stakeholders, remaining fully dedicated to the foundational mission of TCGplayer, and committed to supporting the company and culture that has defined TCGplayer in identifying a permanent leader for the company.”