Knock Names Michelle DeBella as New Chief Financial Officer

Knock is updating its leadership pool with the hiring of Michelle DeBella. DeBella joins the company as the new Chief Financial Officer, reporting directly to Sean Black, Knock Co-Founder and CEO. In this role, she will head operations and accelerate growth.

Under her belt, DeBella has over 25 years of experience with a diverse background in finance strategy, operations, and management at companies like Lyft, Uber, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. 

On her credentials, Black said:

“Michelle’s leadership experience helping two hyper-growth, iconic tech companies go public as they drove a tectonic shift in an established industry makes her uniquely qualified to join Knock at a critical inflection point in our five-year history.

“We are extremely fortunate that Michelle has chosen to bring her experience to Knock as we continue to accelerate the growth of our business and share our mission to empower people to move more freely with the masses.” 

DeBella was an obvious choice, as she was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology in 2019 by the National Diversity Council. And even if she held leadership positions at rideshare apps, DeBella brings deep experience that she will translate seamlessly into the real estate company. 

On this, DeBella said:

“Although they are in different industries, Knock, Lyft, and Uber all have the shared mission of helping people move freely. Knock is fundamentally improving the everyday experience of buying and selling a home -- one of life’s most important transactions.

“I’m excited to be joining a company with a strong culture that is leveraging technology to change how we work and live. I look forward to contributing to its already impressive growth trajectory.”

Knock has been quickly expanding its escrow service Knock Home Swap into markets across the country in recent months. Knock Home Swap is now available in Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas-Fort Worth; Denver; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix; Raleigh, N.C.; San Antonio; Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla., through 70 brokerage firms with more than 43,000 agents. Knock plans to expand to at least 21 markets by mid-2021.