Industry veteran Chris Heller has a new gig. The former OJO Labs and Lower Mortgage exec has been recruited by Place as the company’s first Chief Revenue Officer, Place has informed Inman.
Chris Heller | Credit: Cole Ledger
The move is all part of Place’s long-term strategy to consolidate real estate, mortgage, title, insurance and home services into one platform for consumers, the company said in a press release.
“For years, I’ve watched Place methodically build the infrastructure required to support scale,” Heller said in a statement. “What’s compelling about Place is that it’s no longer just enabling transactions — it’s assembling a full homeownership platform with multiple revenue streams, strong unit economics and long-term consumer relationships. That’s where real value gets created.”
Heller has acquired more than three decades of experience over the course of his career, spanning multiple facets of the industry. After becoming a top agent, Heller was CEO of Keller Williams Realty International and held other leadership roles at the firm for more than 10 years.
Heller was also CEO of LoanDepot referral platform mellohome and president of OJO Labs, which was acquired by Lower Mortgage last May. As he moves into his new role at Place, Heller will stay on at Lower as an advisor.
Ben Kinney | Place
“Chris’s career uniquely bridges frontline production, enterprise leadership and consumer technology — experience directly aligned with Place’s next phase of growth,” Place co-founder Ben Kinney said in a statement.
“Place was built with scale in mind from Day One,” Kinney continued. “Chris understands how to connect platform strategy, revenue architecture and consumer experience. As we continue expanding Place into a comprehensive homeownership ecosystem, his leadership is a force multiplier.”
In his role as Chief Revenue Officer, Heller will oversee revenue strategy across all facets of the Place platform. He will also work to optimize revenue performance across existing business units while driving growth by building on consumer touchpoints throughout the homeownership lifecycle, the company said.
Chris Suarez | Place
“Chris brings rare perspective — he’s operated at scale, built consumer platforms and understands how capital, technology and distribution intersect,” Chris Suarez, co-founder of Place, said in a statement. “That perspective is critical as Place continues to mature into a platform with both strategic and financial leverage.”
As Place enters a new phase of growth, the company has appointed a handful of key new hires. In December, the company brought on Vice President of Growth Nikki Miller (previously at Movoto), General Counsel Jamie Jatzlau (previously at Realtor.com) and Senior Vice President of Title Operations and Strategy Claire Dunham (previously at Homeward).
