Real Estate

Strategic move strengthens governance and accelerates growth for MENA’s leading property portal

Property Finder, the MENA region’s leading real estate technology platform, has announced the appointment of Owen Wilson, current CEO of REA Group, to its Board of Directors. The move marks a significant milestone for the company as it seeks to accelerate digital innovation and reinforce its position as the top property portal in the region.

Owen Wilson brings with him more than a decade of executive leadership at REA Group, the parent company of realestate.com.au, Australia’s #1 property platform. Wilson joined REA Group as Chief Financial Officer before taking the reins as CEO, leading the company through sustained growth and global expansion. Under his leadership, REA Group grew into one of the world’s most advanced digital real estate businesses, with a market capitalisation of approximately USD 20 billion and majority ownership by global media conglomerate News Corp.

A Strategic Boost for Property Finder’s Regional Vision

Wilson’s appointment reflects Property Finder’s strategic intent to drive the next phase of innovation and operational excellence in MENA’s digital real estate sector. His addition to the board is expected to deepen the company’s capabilities in areas such as:

• Digital transformation

• International market scaling

• Strategic M&A

• Customer experience innovation

Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of Property Finder, welcomed the appointment:

“Owen brings deep industry expertise to our Board. His leadership at REA Group—driving transformation, customer-centricity, and global strategy—sets a strong industry benchmark. As we continue our mission to ‘change living for good’ in the region, Owen’s insights will be instrumental in helping us strengthen our market leadership and deliver more value to our users and partners.”

A Vision Aligned with Innovation and Growth

In response to his appointment, Owen Wilson expressed enthusiasm about joining Property Finder’s Board:

“I’m deeply passionate about creating personalised experiences that redefine how people engage with property. Property Finder has a bold vision and a transformative role in shaping real estate across the MENA region. Under Michael’s leadership, their relentless focus on innovation and customer experience strongly resonates with the values I’ve championed throughout my career. I look forward to contributing to the company’s growth as it continues to redefine property search for the future.”

Wilson will retire as CEO of REA Group in the second half of 2025, marking a new chapter in his career focused on shaping strategic direction in leading proptech ventures.

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