Portals Announce Raft of New Hires

Three leading property portal operators have announced details of new appointments.

Malaysia-based online classifieds operator Frontier Digital Ventures has appointed Frances Po as an independent non-executive director, effective immediately.

In a statement the company, which is listed on the Australia Securities Exchange, said Po has spent more than 35 years specialising in taxation, and she and was a Tax Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia until her retirement in July 2019.

During her career at PwC she held various senior leadership roles, including Business Unit Leader for International Tax Services / Mergers & Acquisitions Tax from 2012-2019, and Tax Business Unit Leader for Energy, Utilities, Multimedia & Infocommunication from 2005-2012.

The company noted that her extensive experiences working with large global private equity funds and corporations in restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and investment advisory, positions her well for the role.  She also has experience with a fund specialising in the property vertical, and is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, enabling her to work closely with FDV’s management team.

She will become a member of Frontier's Audit and Risk Committee and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Last week Frontier Digital Ventures announced what it described as “milestone” financial results for the latest quarter.

Fellow ASX-listed company REA Group has announced the appointment of Kelly Bayer Rosmarin as an independent non-executive director, with effect from January 1, 2022.

She is the current Chief Executive Officer of Optus and Consumer Australia, and brings experience in banking, risk management and regulated markets, and prior to joining Optus she spent 14 years with Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she held several senior positions.

REA Group Chairman Hamish McLennan said: “We are delighted to welcome Kelly to the REA Group Board. Kelly’s depth of experience across financial services will further complement and strengthen the Board and its diversity.”

Middle Eastern marketplace Property Finder has appointed Christophe de Rassenfosse as its new Chief Product Officer.

The industry veteran brings more than 25 years of experience in helping corporations bridge the gap between technology and business.

Prior to joining Property Finder, he was a senior member in the executive leadership team at Germany’s StepStone Group, one of the world’s largest e-recruitment businesses.

Welcoming the appointment, Property Finder President Ari Kesisoglu said: "We are a technology company and having an experienced CPO like Christophe will help us build better products that empower property seekers to find their homes faster and with less stress."

With his vast experience in online marketing, product development, marketplace dynamics, M&A and brand portfolio management, Christophe will overlook the digital transformation at Property Finder by leading product and growth, he added.