People Roundup: Dubizzle Group, 58.com, Property Finder, Vend, Cian

There's only one place we can start with this week's people roundup—a spate of hires and fires in Asia...

Asia: Dubizzle Group goes on a hiring spree for new look Data Science team

Dubai-based Dubizzle Group has significantly expanded its business intelligence and data science team, adding more than 80 specialists in what the company describes as a long-term investment in its AI capabilities.

The company, which owns Bayut and dubizzle, said the expansion will support a broader strategy to embed predictive analytics, personalised search, and performance optimisation tools across its platforms. The Group says it operates over 70 AI models, including 64 proprietary systems, delivering around 49 million predictions per month.

Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA, said:

“We’re building more than just portals. We’re shaping the future of how people interact with classifieds in the digital age.

“The expansion of manpower in our tech ecosystem is not just a hiring milestone—it’s a strategic investment in making Bayut and dubizzle the most intelligent platforms in the region. This is just the beginning, we will continue to expand this workforce and bring in talented professionals to enhance our tech capabilities. Our ambition is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global benchmarks, and in many ways, set new ones.”

The group’s current AI-enabled feature set includes BayutGPT, Sell with AI, TruEstimate, and TruBroker, all positioned as tools to improve listing relevance, lead quality, and user experience. The company has framed its recent investments as complementary to national initiatives such as the UAE’s AI integration strategy and curriculum reforms aimed at expanding technical literacy.

The hiring push gives Dubizzle one of the largest dedicated data science teams in the regional classifieds and PropTech space, positioning it to accelerate the rollout of intelligent features for both consumers and agents. While the group has not disclosed the total size of its data function, the scale suggests a growing internal focus on proprietary machine learning infrastructure as a long-term differentiator.

58.com staff take to social media to say they've been laid off

A whistleblower has reported that many staff have been made redundant from 58.com as the Chinese classifieds giant fights headwinds.

Tech In Asia's report suggests staff took to Chinese social media network Maimai to say the layoffs affected some departments in 58.com's real estate vertical by up to 50% of headcount. The whistleblower stated that the round of layoffs was enacted without notice and happened "extremely fast".

In 2023, 58.com's CEO Yan Jinbo warned staff that unprofitable segments of the business would be shut down entirely within 12 months.

And earlier this year, Jinbo wrote an internal letter to staff that stated "bad businesses should be scaled back or shut down" and that the company "needs three years to survive the winter and complete industrial upgrading." [translated from Chinese]

Jinbo added several cautious principles for the business across three key areas: recruitment, scaling, and launching new projects.

Although a mass shutdown doesn't appear to have taken place to date, rumours of a mass round of layoffs suggest that action is starting to be taken to stem the tide for a company that lost nearly $20 million in Q4 2024.

Property Finder appoints outgoing REA Group CEO to the board

Property Finder has appointed Owen Wilson, the outgoing CEO at REA Group, to its board of directors citing decades of "executive experience".

Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO at Property Finder, said:

"Owen brings deep industry expertise to our Board. His leadership at REA Group, shaping digital transformation, driving strategic M&A, and championing customer-first innovation sets a strong benchmark for the industry. As we continue our mission to change living for good in the region, Owen’s insight will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our purpose and strengthen our position as the regional leader."

Wilson added:

"I’m deeply passionate about creating personalised experiences that redefine how people engage with property. I’ve long admired Property Finder’s bold vision and the transformative role it plays in reshaping real estate across the MENA region. Under Michael’s leadership, the team’s relentless focus on innovation, customer experience, and data-driven decision-making closely aligns with the values I’ve championed throughout my career. I’m excited to support Michael and the Board as the company embarks on its next chapter of growth and continues to shape the future of property search."

Europe: Vend CPO joins Funda

Jorgen Hellestveit has announced his imminent departure from Vend (formerly Schibsted Marketplaces) to join Dutch real estate marketplace Funda.

In a LinkedIn post, Hellestveit said:

"From August 1st, I’ll be joining Funda in the Netherlands as Chief Commercial Officer – taking my career beyond the Nordics and into one of Europe’s most exciting real estate markets.

"I’m thrilled to be joining a company with such a strong and trusted position among both home seekers and real estate agents. Funda’s impact on the housing journey is significant, and I look forward to helping grow and strengthen that position further together with the talented team in Amsterdam."

Cian appoints new CTO

Cian has appointed Maxim Radyukov as its new Chief Technology Officer, according to Russian publication CNews.

Radyukov previously worked at Avito, another classifieds giant in Russia.

Radyukov said:

"I am pleased to join the Cian team and see significant potential for strengthening the company's business through technology, making it a key driver of growth and innovation. I am confident that my experience, skills and knowledge will help the company reach new heights and offer our users and partners even more innovative solutions."