More than four months after previous RentPath CEO Chip Perry announced his return to the auto industry, today the Atlanta-based parent company of Apartment Guide, Rent.com, Rentals.com and Lovely hired Marc Lefar as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.
Marc Lefar
RentPath veteran Kim Payne, who assumed the interim leadership role, will continue her long-time responsibilities as CFO.
Citing Lefar’s take-charge initiative, proclivity toward innovation and cross-industry problem-solving aptitude, the RentPath Board stood behind him unanimously.
“After an exhaustive search, we are thrilled to have Marc join the RentPath family,” said David Trujillo, Chairman of the Board at RentPath and partner at TPG, in a press release. “His legacy of guiding established brands during periods of major product innovation makes us confident that Marc is the right leader to spearhead the next chapter of our leadership in the industry.
“We thank Kim for her dedication, service, and stewardship as interim CEO and look forward to her continued leadership as our chief financial officer.”
RentPath Logo. (PRNewsFoto/RentPath Inc.) (PRNewsFoto/RentPath)
Lefar, whose 30-year career began at Procter and Gamble, brings extensive experience in digital and mobile platforms to RentPath.
As the former CEO of Vonage Holdings, a cloud-based communications provider in the business voice-over-IP space, Lefar spearheaded major changes from 2008 to 2014, including new market expansion and fostering significant shareholder returns.
Leading up to his position at Vonage, he executed key initiatives at Cingular Wireless (now AT&T Mobility), where he served as the chief marketing officer, integrated AT&T Wireless into the Cingular brand and worked with Steve Jobs during the company’s partnership with Apple in launching the iPhone.
He is currently on the Board of Directors for ClassPass, IPC Systems and the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Board.
“Marc has a sterling record of driving results,” said Michael Dominguez, a managing director at Providence Equity Partners and RentPath Board member, in a press release. “He retains and attracts top talent, creating dynamic teams that successfully build brand equity and adapt to changing markets to deliver the highest value to customers.
“We’re confident that his breadth and depth of experience will energize the company and forge our path forward to continued leadership.”
Lefar’s digital know-how will be applied to RentPath’s many online platforms — which saw more rental leads than ever in June 2015 — and their technological future.
“I am thrilled to join the RentPath organization,” Lefar said in the announcement. “I look forward to working with this passionate team and leveraging the latest technologies to delight both apartment-hunting consumers and property advertising customers.
“Today, more people in America are renting than ever before. And as the long-standing industry leader, RentPath is best positioned to create the greatest value for both sides of the digital marketplace.”