Ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman Shoved Employee, Paid $200K to Settle

Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay and now-California gubernatorial candidate, seems to have gotten herself in some hot water three years ago, and paid for it.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Whitman forked out about $200,000 for allegedly shoving a communications-department employee in June 2007. The news comes as Whitman campaigns to become Californias next governor; she won the primary election last week.

Apparently, Whitman was taking a briefing from Young Mi Kim in preparation for a Reuters interview. Whitman wasnt happy with the presentation, however, so she used an expletive and shoved Kim, Kim alleged. Whitman maintained that she physically guided Kim out of the conference room. Kim left eBay but returned after some professional mediation that included an approximately $200,000 settlement. She still works at the Internet auction giant as a senior manager in the corporate and executive communications department.

Neither Kim nor Whitman wanted to talk about the incident with the Times; when pressed, though, each sang the others praises in prepared statements this week.

Whitman has earned a reputation as a demanding leader, but this incident seems to be a one-time matter, former eBay employees told the Times at least, when it comes to business. Politics could be a whole different animal. (Although were betting any physical guiding of the likes of current California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is out of the question.)