REA Group has announced a new organisational structure to further progress its strategy to build next generation marketplaces.
Anthony Waldron (pictured) has been appointed as chief executive officer of financial services and Mortgage Choice.
Waldron brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services strategy, mortgage broking and business development to the role and he already held the role of Mortgage Choice interim CEO. He will also join REA’s Executive Leadership Team.
Waldron will succeed Janelle Hopkins, who has led the growth of the financial services businesses over the past three years, including the successful acquisition of Mortgage Choice and its integration with Smartline, in addition to her ongoing responsibilities as chief financial officer of the group.
REA Group CEO Owen Wilson said financial services was a core pillar of REA’s strategy.
“Anthony will lead the next phase of growth and innovation within our mortgage broking and digital direct lending businesses,” Wilson said.
“He brings significant experience having led NAB’s presence in the mortgage and finance broking market. I’d like to thank Janelle for her significant contribution and strong leadership during a critical period of growth in our financial services business – she has positioned us to become Australia’s clear No.1 retail broking business.”
Wilson said the changes to the group effective 1 July 2022 were an important step in simplifying and aligning structure to REA Group’s growth agenda:
“Our consumer, customer and data marketplaces are becoming more interdependent than ever, underpinned by Australia’s largest and most engaged audience of property seekers,” he said.
“To unlock the full potential of the Group our new structure enables us to fully leverage our scale and the increasing connectivity of our growing marketplaces.”
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Wilson said Melina Cruickshank will lead a new combined product and audience group as chief product and audience officer with accountability for consumer product, customer product, audience and marketing and PropTrack.
“REA has achieved unrivalled scale with realestate.com.au the clear No.1 address for property and the sixth largest online brand in Australia,” he said.
“This large and engaged audience is critical in driving our business and the connection of the product, marketing and data portfolios will put us in a strong position to deliver our next phase of growth.”
