One of the industry’s best known and most popular characters, Simon Whale, has quit his role at the software company with which he has been completely synonymous for the last 15 years or so.
Whale’s departure on Wednesday from his role as head of sales was announced this afternoon.
It appears that Whale – without whom no industry event or estate agency charity golf match is complete and whose fashion sense is renowned – will now be a consultant with start-up and proptech companies. He will also perform an ‘ambassadorial’ role with Reapit, the firm announced. No successor has been announced for the head of sales post.
Reapit boss Gary Barker paid tribute to Whale’s “larger than life” approach.
In a press release which looked as though it should have gone out earlier this week, in this afternoon’s statement CEO Barker said: “We would like to confirm that as of the 4th July 2018 Simon Whale will be leaving Reapit.
“Simon will be focusing his efforts in helping and developing start-up and expanding proptech companies learn and grow, as well as helping agents to get the most out of technology. He will continue to work with us in an ambassadorial role at Reapit.
“This new role will allow Simon to work with companies that are on the beginning of the growth curve and require a strategy to accelerate. We believe that this new role will provide both opportunities for new proptech organisations to grow, but equally for them to integrate and work with the successful Reapit platforms.
“I have worked with Simon for over 15 years as we have grown Reapit from ten staff to over 200 today.
“I am pleased that Simon will be working with new and growing proptech companies on new opportunities for integration and deeper relationships with Reapit. I would like to thank Simon for his hard work and his larger than life approach to real estate. It is a very exciting time for Simon and I am sure that a number of companies will benefit from his skills and knowledge.”
Whale said: “There are more and more proptech providers entering the industry, and at a time when there is more and more legislation and a reduction in volumes it is important that they solve a real problem for agents rather than being one of those here today, gone tomorrow fads.
“The clients I’ve spoken to over the years have said they often find it completely bewildering separating the wheat from the chaff, I believe I can help solve that problem. Technology done right can give you a superb foundation for the business, done wrong it can become your Achilles heel.
“I am pleased that following my time at Reapit, at a time when we became the clear market leader in the CRM space, and getting to work with some of the best estate agencies around the world, I can now share my knowledge and experience with companies looking to grow.”
Only last October Reapit was bought out by its management, including Whale, in a £50m deal backed by Accel-KKR.
Comments (21)
First of all I want to say thank you to everyone (almost ) who’ve said such lovely things. I have more failings than the average politician but to say I’ve been blown away by all the messages of support on here and by message and phone has given me the old ‘permission for bottom lip to wobble’ moment. Hopefully what it does show over the years is that you get what you see with me and for right or wrong and quite mysteriously many seem to like it.
Secondly I’d like to thank Reapit for the best years of my life (so far). People trying to read stuff into this and are looking for criticism of them are completely wide of the mark, it’s a first class company with great people and amazing product and you’re going to see them prosper. I’ll have to check the T’s and C’s of that Ambassadorial role, I think it means I get to wear Reapit leggings, but I do know as the release says we’ll work together in the future.
Lastly I’d like to thank well everyone really, any industry that is charitable enough to give a maverick like me a chance is pretty special. And because it’s been so good to me over the years I’m going to try and give something back and take the opportunity of spending more time on the Do It For Dom charity under the Agents Giving banner raising money for our client, oops sorry got to get used to that my ex client but still very good friend Dom Subbiani and his fight against Huntington’s.
If you haven’t had a chance to get involved please pick a rider for Snowdon and give whatever you can.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/doitfordom2018
So unfortunately for some , I’m still going to be around day to day on my normal number or whale.simon@gmail.com or of course anywhere on social media, just hashtag Brexit or Trump and my SLA is 0.3 seconds to respond.
So long and thanks for all the fish …..
Simon won’t be without work for long . Watch this space
A big surprise as for many he is Reapit and through all the madness a great mind helped build a great empire and forged strong relationships and alliances.
Never met the guy… never even spoken to him or corresponded other than a couple of posts here and Tweets there – but somehow I feel like I know him…
In the main what I ‘see’, I like. This is how he rates on the PeeBee Scale*:
Fearless – practically leonine. Box ticked.
Agenda – Industry…Industry…Industry. Box ticked.
Respected – just read the above… ’nuff said. Box ticked.
Tenacious – Jack Russell at a meaty ankle-bone. What’s not to like? Box ticked.
Four down… two to go…
Unconventional – OHHHHH YEEESSSSS! Box ticked.
Passionate – H£LL YEAH! Box ticked. Twice. In bold and highlighted.
Not many score that high in my eyes.
Good luck, Mr Whale. Reapit’s controllers may be rueing their ability to time-travel in the not-too distant future…
I think I speak for everyone at Reapit when I say the place will not be the same without Simon. His larger than life approach, his zest and enthusiasm all accompanied by his shrewd business decisions make him a very pleasurable and inspiring person to work with. I would say I wish him luck for the future, but he doesn’t need it, he will naturally be successful. We will all really miss him at work, however he never misses a conference or night out so we don’t get rid of him that easily!
Thanks for all youve done for me personally Whaley, you will be sorely missed! Credit to the industry!
I really thought once they shed that geriatric dead weight Stead nothing could hold them back. But with Whaley and Pete quitting Reapit’s future looks very bleak indeed.
Ladies and Gentlemen – Elvis has left the building!
I would be very interested to talk to Simon. I am sure he could help a certain project for independent agents a lot.
Wooha… or perhaps UHA…
It is a genuine pleaure to be posting a redacted obituary for Simon knowing he is still alive! I had one prepared just in case the next time he got jiggy with a shark he didn’t fair so well.
I have total respect for Simon and have previously posted it was pure genius of someone to let Simon be Simon, a character his customers both loved and respected and whose competition envied.
I’m not sure what his plans are for the future but whatever he decides to do I am positive whatever it is it will be a blast for his customers and those who work with him!
I am building a something that really would benefit from Simon’s input so my sadness is this is a bit too early for me to be staight on the phone offering him a job in order to beat the rush of people who should snuffle him into their fold.
Respect Mr. Whale! Respect.
Good riddance to one of the most unprofessional people in our industry!
Interesting comment. What did Mr Whale do to upset you?
One would argue his ‘Unprofessional’ behaviour catipulted Reapit to where it is today.
Whatever his behaviour, i bet he has acheived more than you.
FakeNews – if you real knew Simon and what he does for our industry .. my intuition tells me you would be saying something else
Is that you Gary?
A legend and one of the best in the business. Simon has been so vital in helping shape our business and I look forward to working with him in the future whatever he gets up to next. Reapit will miss him but as they say all good things must come to an end.
🙂
Well thats a massive hole to fill!
All the best Simon, look forward to seeing what you get up to next.
Private Equity companies invest in management teams, so for a member of the management-buy-out team to leave this early on is extremely unusual and a real alarm bell… Make no mistake, he’s been pushed now they realise what they are dealing with!
Wow.. who’s is MD85
The end of an era… like Bill Gates leaving Microsoft, like Robbie Williams leaving Take That….erm…. like Bernie Winters losing Schnorbitz…. I could go on! Looking forward to seeing your next move…..