Bath-based overseas property portal Kyero has appointed Gemma Coles as its new CEO, a role in which she takes over the leadership of the fast-growing business from its co-founders.
Martin and Louise Dell set up Kyero in 2003 with an initial investment of just £5,000.
It has since grown to become the largest international property portal in the UK, with more than 750,000 properties for sale across Europe, and a turnover of £4m.
It also has relationships with 10,000-plus estate agents across Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, including Re/Max, Century 21, Engel & Völkers, Coldwell Banker, IAD and Taylor Wimpey.
Gemma, pictured, joined Kyero as managing director in 2020 having previously been MD at Bristol-based IPG Mediabrands-owned digital consultancy Mubaloo, where she led a 50-strong team and built strategic partnerships with the likes of Apple and EE, and oversaw key client accounts including Channel 4, RAC, Met Office and Hargreaves Lansdown.
She also helped to position the company for acquisition by IPG Mediabrands. Since joining Kyero she has delivered revenue growth of 50% despite the significant market challenges of both Brexit and Covid-19.
A key founding principle of Kyero is to conduct business in a socially responsible way and offer its employees a better work-life balance.
As well as achieving B-Corp status last year, reflecting its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit, it also supports Spanish homelessness charity Hogar Si RAIS, while its global team is fully remote.
Louise Dell said: “Gemma has delivered consistent and impressive growth across the business over the last three years despite a series of significant challenges within the international property market.
“At the same time, she has always ensured that Kyero’s founding ethos as a business with heart and soul has always been at the forefront, not least through her leading the work to achieve B Corp status.
“The potential for the business moving forward is significant as we look to strengthen and expand our foothold in all four territories.
“With Gemma at the helm, and the exceptionally talented global team working alongside her, we are confident that we will achieve our ambitious growth targets over the coming years.”
Gemma added: “Despite the significant recent growth of the business, we remain nimble and well-positioned to respond to the considerable opportunity that exists in the market, particularly as data suggests that buyer confidence in the overseas market is high compared to some domestic markets.”
