Former REA boss appointed interim CEO of Domain

Domain has announced the appointment of Greg Ellis as interim CEO, effective 17 February, while the company continues its search for a permanent leader. Ellis, who previously led REA Group from 2008 to 2014 and more recently served as CEO of MYOB until 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He has been a member of Domain’s board since its spinout from Fairfax Media in 2017, making him well-acquainted with the company’s operations.

Ellis takes over from Jason Pellegrino, who announced in October he would step down after six years at the helm of Domain. Pellegrino, who played a pivotal role in evolving Domain from an online classifieds site to a comprehensive property marketplace, will officially finish his tenure on 28 February. During his final results briefing, Pellegrino highlighted several key achievements under his leadership, including a 14% rise in earnings and significant growth in high-value listings through products like Platinum Edge and Audience Boost.

For the six months to 31 December, Domain saw its earnings rise to $77.8 million, up 14% compared to the same period last year, with profits increasing by 28% to $33.1 million. These results were driven by an increase in site visits and adoption of new products, including an API management platform and growth in residential revenue.

[click to enlarge] Domain’s H1 FY25 results.

Ellis, who will remain a director of Domain while acting as CEO, has committed to staying in the interim role for up to 12 months. This appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company as it continues to evolve its technology platforms and expand its market offerings.

Looking ahead, Ellis will oversee Domain’s efforts to continue investing in technology to enhance user experiences and improve operational efficiency, following in the footsteps of Pellegrino’s strategic focus on innovation and growth.

“We are progressing our investment into our technology platforms to accelerate the marketplace journey and broaden the range of ‘Only on Domain’ experiences available to our users,” Pellegrino said in his final results briefing.

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