After serving as interim CEO, Peter Semple officially takes the helm at Depop, steering the UK-based fashion resale platform through significant user growth and a 29% reduction in operating losses, signalling a strong push towards profitability and sustainability under his leadership.
Peter Semple has been appointed as the permanent Chief Executive Officer of Depop, the UK-based peer-to-peer fashion resale marketplace, following a three-month period as interim CEO. Semple, who officially takes on the role from August 1, has a long-standing history with the company, having joined in 2019. His extensive experience within Depop includes key executive roles such as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Brand Officer, and a return to CMO before stepping into the interim CEO position in May.
Semple’s journey to the top of Depop underscores his intimate knowledge of the company and its mission. Prior to joining Depop, he spent seven years at Google’s creative lab, bringing valuable digital expertise to the fashion resale platform. Commenting on his permanent appointment, Semple said, “From building our brand as chief marketing officer to guiding the company as interim chief executive officer, it has been a privilege. Together with our incredible team, I am committed to accelerating our mission to make fashion circular.” This mission aligns with Depop’s focus on sustainability through promoting circular fashion.
Since its acquisition by Etsy in 2021, Depop has continued to expand under the stewardship of both Semple and Etsy’s leadership. Josh Silverman, Etsy’s CEO, praised Semple’s leadership during his interim term, highlighting his ability to inspire teams and his deep understanding of Depop’s cultural significance, especially within the resale community. Silverman expressed confidence in Semple’s vision for the company’s future.
Depop’s growth metrics illustrate a compelling story of expansion and resilience. The platform’s community swelled to 35 million registered users in 2023, up from 30 million the previous year, driving a revenue increase of 31% to £71.3 million. This progress also contributed to narrowing the company’s operating losses by 29% to £49.1 million. Depop’s core markets remain the US, UK, and Australia, with a significant feature of its marketplace being that 56% of sellers who completed a sale also made at least one purchase. Apparel constitutes 94% of the platform’s gross merchandise sales, underscoring its strong position in the fashion resale sector.
Depop’s development has been marked by ongoing innovation, including technological enhancements like the introduction of Depop Payments in the US and the launch of an onsite ads platform, which have helped improve user engagement and monetisation pathways. Despite previous losses, the company has been steadily closing the gap towards profitability and increasing brand recognition in key markets.
Etsy’s acquisition of Depop in 2021 for $1.625 billion was designed to strengthen Etsy’s presence in the resale market, particularly targeting the Gen Z demographic. Depop operates as a standalone marketplace with its headquarters in London and additional offices in Manchester and New York, retaining the agility to innovate within its niche while benefiting from Etsy’s global resources.
With Semple now permanently at the helm, Depop appears poised to continue its momentum, further embedding circular fashion principles into its growth strategy while expanding its community and commercial success.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being July 24, 2025. The official announcement from Depop’s newsroom was published on that date. ([news.depop.com](https://news.depop.com/peter-semple-appointed-as-depops-permanent-chief-executive-officer/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Peter Semple and Josh Silverman are unique to this announcement, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests the content is original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Depop’s official newsroom, a reputable source. Additionally, coverage by established outlets like Retail Dive and FashionUnited further supports the reliability of the information. ([retaildive.com](https://www.retaildive.com/news/depop-names-permanent-ceo-peter-semple-etsy/754188/?utm_source=openai), [fashionunited.com](https://fashionunited.com/news/people/depop-names-peter-semple-as-ceo/2025072867354?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about Peter Semple’s appointment and his background are consistent with information from multiple reputable sources. His previous roles at Depop and his tenure at Google’s Creative Lab are well-documented. ([news.depop.com](https://news.depop.com/who-we-are/leadership/peter-semple/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and supported by reliable sources. The direct quotes are unique, and the information aligns with details from reputable outlets, indicating a high level of credibility.
