The online fashion marketplace Depop has announced the appointment of Francois Callens to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Francois will oversee marketplace operations, business operations and strategy whilst continuing to supervise finance and compliance.

The company, which was acquired by Etsy in July for $1.6bn, creates further opportunities into the high frequency fashion sector for its new parent company, specifically in the fast-growing resale space serving a largely Gen Z audience which currently sits at 30 million registered users.

Last month, Depop was officially certified as a climate-neutral company by leading climate solutions provider South Pole.

The e-commerce reseller has launched a programme aimed at helping charities to create shops to sell second-hand items through its marketplace. The initiative, called the Charity Seller Programme, will help a selected number of charities use its platform to sell products online more easily while offering tailored support and resources.

Rachel Swidenbank, VP of Sellers at Depop, said: “The pandemic prompted many charities to pivot towards online selling, and there’s an amazing opportunity to build on this as the popularity of second-hand fashion continues to grow. Using platforms like Depop, charities can reach a much wider audience with a more extensive offering than they can on their shop floors.”

She added: “We’re passionate about helping our sellers succeed, and this programme is aimed at encouraging charities to thrive online by keeping them ahead of the latest trends and sharing insights on digital merchandising.”

Depop’s new programme will be an initiative it will be increasing its media budget for. The company’s advertising spend skyrocketed to £2m earlier this year after spending less than £250,000 in previous quarters.