Lovin’ It - ex-McDonalds man is new Rightmove boss

The new chief executive of Rightmove is a former McDonalds digital executive.

Johan Svanström will succeed Peter Brooks-Johnson at the helm of Rightmove in the new year.

A statement from the portal says Svanström brings experience of “growing established business to business to consumer online marketplace businesses.”

He’s worked at Hotels.com and Expedia Group - at the latter he was one of the company’s first employees in Asia, where he led the effort to set up the business across the continent. He had previously led digital projects at McDonalds.

A Swedish national based in the UK, he is currently a partner at global investment service EQT Growth Advisory Team.

Svanström will join Rightmove on February 20 as executive director and chief executive designate and will be appointed chief executive on March 6.

A statement from Rightmove says that under Brooks-Johnson’s leadership the portal has seen time spent by users rise from 11.7 billion minutes in 2016, to over 18 billion in 2021. 

“This has delivered sustained growth for our shareholders, increasing annual revenues from £220 million to £304 million in the same period and returning more than £750 million through dividends and share buybacks” says the firm.

Svanström comments: “I’m very excited to join Rightmove and look forward to building on the Company’s strong position and partnership model together with the team. 

“Technology continues to provide opportunities to grow markets and create efficiencies everywhere. Rightmove has a long runway of opportunities to innovate, digitise and create ever more value for users, customers, and the wider eco-system.”