Lawrence Hall, the PR brains behind much of Zoopla’s success over the past ten years and one of Alex Chesterton’s key lieutenants, has left the company.
The 40-year-old’s departure comes just months after parent company ZPG was bought by US investment firm SilverLake for £2.2 billion.
Hall (pictured, above) has been working his notice for some time, and is due to join used car selling and rental website Cazoo, which is Chesterman’s latest venture after he stepped down as CEO of ZPG, to be its Communications Director.
“After nearly ten incredible, invigorating and at times, insane years working with inspirational colleagues and friends at Zoopla/ZPG Plc, I am taking a few months out,” said Hall on Linkedin.
Cazoo has already raised £30m from a wide range of investors, including Daily Mail parent company DMGT and Octopus Investments, both of which heavily backed Zoopla/ZPG.
Paul Zwillenberg, chief executive of DMGT (left), said: “We are delighted to back Alex again in his new venture. He has an unparalleled track record of identifying and capitalising on opportunities for technology to disrupt whole industries, delivering tremendous value for consumers and shareholders alike.
Through the Cazoo platform customers will be able to buy, finance or rent a used car online and have it delivered to their door within 48 hours.
Highlights of Hall’s time at ZPG included exploiting Zoopla’s sponsorship of West Bromwich football club, rapidly making Zoopla the go-to source for property information for the media and fighting its ongoing PR battle initially with Rightmove, and latterly with OnTheMarket.
Hall joined Zoopla in May 2009 initially as Head of PR at Zoopla before being promoted to run ZPG’s wider promotional effort, later being given the title of Director of Communications.
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