The Birmingham Press

Serial entrepreneur joins Birmingham property company

PropTech company strengthens its management team with appointment of renowned businessman.


A top serial entrepreneur, who specialises in the development of growth companies, has joined www.LettingaProperty.com as non-executive director – with the aim of doubling the business’s revenue within twelve months.

Jonathan Daines, chief executive of Warwickshire-based www.LettingaProperty.com, a leading PropTech enterprise, said that the appointment of Kevin Neary (pictured) was a “major coup” for the business, which specialises in providing an alternative lettings service to landlords and tenants in the residential property sector.

Mr Daines, who co-founded the company with his brother Matthew, added: “We met Kevin through a mutual friend and I am delighted that he will now be playing a major role in the development of the company by shaping its strategic direction.”

Dublin-born Mr Neary, one of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs, first made his fortune after leaving university and setting up, with boyhood friend Michael Finucane, a video games retail store, which developed into becoming Ireland’s largest independent specialist games retailer before being sold to the Texas-based GameStop Corporation.

Mr Neary, who became managing director of the GameStop Group in Ireland and UK, left the business in 2011 when he decided to invest in growth companies and early stage start-ups. Since then he has become a recognised mentor and investor in at least ten companies.

Acknowledged as an expert in digital selling, who has been responsible for generating new business revenues of $100m+ in the tech sectors, Mr Neary’s specialist knowledge will be invaluable to www.LettingaProperty.com, which was launched when Jonathan spotted a gap in the market to exclusively service private landlords using a digital platform.

Since then, they have developed into a leading company in the PropTech sector, letting over 7,500 properties nationwide, registering 63,000 tenants and attracting over 22,000 landlord clients.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Neary, who took his own 1994 start-up company to one with a market valuation of 100 million euros in 2008 when it was acquired by GameStop Corporation, said: “PropTech is a growth industry and that’s something I look for when I’m invited to join a team for mentoring or investing in. Importantly, Jonathan and Matthew have vision and ambition and are very focused on where they want to go.

“Now I have to execute a plan for them – and my aim is to double the company’s revenue in twelve months and also to broaden its customer base, moving towards significant growth.”

He added: “I feel very strongly that if you want to build a team which is better than you, then it is vital that you bring in people outside your industry to advise on your business.”

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