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Simon Baker
Executive Chairman,
CAV Investment Holdings Pty Ltd
About Simon
Simon Baker has recently set up Classified Ad Ventures – a company focusing on investing in and building new businesses in the global online classifieds space. Two key businesses within Classified Ad Ventures are Property Portal Watch (www.propertyportalwatch.com) and Property Ad Guru (www.propertyadguru.com). Property Portal Watch provides the online real estate industry with analysis, news, opinions and gossip about property portals from around the world. Property Ad Guru provides realtors around the world with advice and guidance on how to get the most from their online advertising.Until recently Simon was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA Group (ASX: REA; realestate.com.au Ltd and its subsidiaries). He joined realestate.com.au Ltd in 2001 and during his 7.5 years as CEO, the business increased revenues from $4 million to over $155+ million, turned around a loss of $6m to an EBITDA profit of more than $33m, grew staff from 25 to over 750, and increased its market capitalisation from $8 million to $600 million. Today the business operates 22 residential, commercial and holiday rentals sites in 10 countries – Australia, UK, Italy, UAE, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, parts of France and Germany, Belgium and New Zealand. These sites list 1.5m properties from 25,000 paying agents and are viewed by 9m people (UB’s) each month. In addition the business publishes 8 print publications and 4 agent office software products.Prior to becoming CEO, Simon was Chief Business Development Officer at News Interactive, was Chief Technology Officer in a US start up and spent five years with McKinsey and Company providing strategic and organisational advice to Senior Management at major Australian and international companies.Check out the new site at: www.propertyportalwatch.com