More Boomin News as UK Challenger Hires ex Rightmove and Zoopla Execs

More details continue to emerge about the UK challenger portal being launched by the brothers behind Purple Bricks. Boomin has already hired the former boss of Reapit, Gary Barker to be CEO and has now hired former Zoopla and Cazoo man Andrew Stewart to be COO. Stewart was a rising star at Zoopla before being snapped up by Alex Chesterman to work on his new automotive play Cazoo, but it appears that the opportunity in the UK property portal world was enough to persuade Stewart to return to the sector to work on Boomin. Former Rightmove and Zoopla employee Lesley Dunn has been appointed as Sales Director. Speaking on his company’s recruitment, Boomin Chief Executive Michael Bruce said: 

“We are privileged to have attracted a large number of leading experts spanning technology, marketing and partnerships to achieve our ambitious goals. We will be doubling our workforce over the coming weeks and months as we prepare to launch the UK’s first portal for the home.”

Although only a select few agents have been given a look under the hood of what Boomin has to offer, all of the noises coming from those who have seen it have been sufficiently positive to generate quite a buzz in the industry. A new statement from CEO Barker may give some fresh clues as to how Boomin will look to take on incumbents Rightmove and Zoopla:

“Boomin is not just a listing site and will have a wealth of unique features that give everyone deeper insights into the market, get more people engaged and interested in property, whether they are active or passive and put agents and their brand front and centre like never before” says Barker. 

“Visitors to the site will get a richer, more interactive experience. Boomin will be a place where people can get things done, a place that makes the process more straightforward for everyone. We have created the most customer and agent centric platform ever.”

The site is due to launch later this year, although no specific date has yet been given.