UK Portals Coming and Goings Roundup

Even in the midst of a global pandemic, portal bosses in the UK have been busy shuffling their decks. Here is a roundup of the movers and shakers in the world of UK property portal personnel this week…

Purplebricks Yes, we know they aren’t a portal...

OUT: CFO James Davies. The former Zoopla man leaves with the hybrid agent’s share price scraping along at 36 pence (down from 100 pence on IPO back in 2015)

IN: Andrew Botha. Previously of travel company Secret Escapes.

What they said: An outgoing Davies was quoted as saying: “Notwithstanding the current COVID-19 circumstances, the company is in a strong financial position and ready for its exciting next stage of development and success.”
 

Zoopla

IN: Former Knight Frank employee, Gráinne Gilmour comes in as Head of Research

What they said: Director, Richard Donnell commented: “Gráinne is one of the UK’s leading housing analysts and we are delighted she has joined Zoopla to expand our programme of thought leadership and market insight.”

OnTheMarket

IN: Former Savills exec, Rupert Sebag-Montefiore appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director. 

What they said: Non-Executive Chairman Chris Bell, said, “Rupert has extensive experience. In addition to his career at Savills, He was Chairman of PrimeLocation and has considerable Board Committee experience. We greatly look forward to working with him.”
 

OpenBrix

IN: John Hards, Former chief of top UK agency Countrywide, joins challenger portal OpenBrix.

What they said: “It is a unique portal based on next generation technology that will enable tenants to have their own sovereign identity that will carry their data including rental credit history. This brings a genuine solution to the portal space whilst providing many additional benefits at a fixed and affordable cost”