PropTech start-up Propps has announced the appointment of their new chief operating officer, former Harcourts Queensland CEO Jonathan King, and their new operations manager Matilda Salameh.
The Announcement:
Propps has secured the services of an experienced real estate and digital operator, with Jonathan King appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Also joining the growing outfit is new Operations Manager Matilda Salameh.
Formerly CEO of Harcourts in Queensland, Mr King has vast experience across the digital and real estate realms, having held previous roles with Domain Group, commercialVIEW.com.au, REA Group, RE/MAX and the Australian Radio Network.
Ms Salameh has previously held digital solutions and CRM management positions with Domain Group. Prior to that, she worked in a real estate agency for eight years overseeing the day-to-day business operations.
Ms Salameh had contracted with Propps since late 2020 before officially coming on board, bringing significant client relations, real estate and start-up experience to the growing team.
Mr King and Ms Salameh join Propps at a pivotal time in the company’s growth trajectory. The national launch of the digital offer management solution to the broader market is imminent but Propps has already made a major impact.
With a vision to make the experience of buying property simple, smart and accessible, Propps is an agent-centric solution that enables them to install a ‘Make an Offer’ feature on any property listing, so agents can direct their buyers to their own website where the buyer can make a binding or nonbinding offer on the property at a time and place that suits them.
For agents, it adds a whole new layer of efficiency and ensures no offer goes unchecked, which is especially prevalent in a hot market when listings can attract high volumes of offers.
With Propps now focused on growth, the new appointments will support the business in this exciting next phase, says Propps Founder & CEO Daniel Bignold.
“Jonathan’s industry-leading experience and understanding of the digital landscape as well as the day-to-day operating environment for agents, and the challenges and pressures they face, will help ensure the solution we provide is delivered in the simplest, smoothest, cleanest way to integrate seamlessly with the way agents work,” Mr Bignold says.
“Matilda’s digital nous and extensive customer relations experience has already proven instrumental in the journey of the business to date and, as we prepare for the broader launch, we’ll continue to draw on her experience and enthusiasm,” he says.
According to Mr King, current market conditions – including the realities of COVID – elevate the value of the Propps digital offer management system.
“The offer and acceptance process for agents, buyers and vendors is deeply fragmented and inconsistent. Many challenges within current processes are exposed when the market is hot and demand for available properties is intense. Then there’s the additional complexity of COVID restrictions,” Mr King explains.
“Propps makes the process simpler and more coherent. It directly addresses pain points for agents, while adding real value to vendors while helping to improve the customer experience for buyers. Buyers now have the opportunity to make an offer in a consistent way and agents benefit from improved buyer insights.
“For vendors, no offer goes unchecked by the agent. For agents, their existing robust offer management processes are not disrupted, however when they present offers to their vendors, Propps assists by allowing the vendor to easily compare apple with apples,” he says.
Ms Salameh was eager to join the Propps team on a permanent basis because of the impact the Propps innovation will have on the age-old process of transacting real estate.
“It is a unique offering that is going to plug a gap where there has been no streamlined approach. To be able to join the trajectory, see the vision and be along for the ride to watch it come to fruition is something I didn’t want to miss,” Ms Salameh says.
Propps is backed by 1835i Ventures, the innovation and investment partner of ANZ Banking Group.
Source: Propps
