Realestate plucks CEO from Microsoft

Rea Group, which runs the Realestate.com.au family of websites, has a new chief executive after poaching a Microsoft staffer.

REA Group's new CEO Greg Ellis
(Credit:REA Group )

Greg Ellis, who is Microsoft Asia's online marketing director, will take up the helm of REA Group on 8 September, replacing Simon Baker who was asked to stand aside one month ago by the group's board.

"Greg has the online and international experience necessary to grow the business from where it is today," said chairman of REA Group, Richard Freudenstein, in a statement.

"The board is delighted that Greg has agreed to lead the REA Group through the next, crucial stage of its development. We are confident he will fully realise the strategic vision we have for the company."

REA Group's chief financial officer Georg Chmiel has filled in as CEO over the past month while the company searched for Baker's replacement.

Chmiel flagged that the company was close to announcing a new CEO at REA's earnings announcement just three days ago.

"The board thought it would be good to put in someone with fresh ideas with different skills to take the business to the next level," Chmeil said at the time.

Prior to his role at Microsoft, Ellis served as managing director of Dutch online and search company World Directories. Ellis has also spent 11 years at Telstra, most recently as general manager of Sensis Interactive.