PHOTO: 🏠 Trade Me. realestate.co.nz. OneRoof. The battle for NZ’s property eyeballs just entered a new phase. PROPERTY NOISE
👔 NZME Names New Chief of OneRoof Property Division
Media heavyweight NZME has announced a significant leadership move, appointing James MacAvoy as the new head of its property platform OneRoof.
MacAvoy will step into the role next Tuesday, replacing outgoing chief Greg Hornblow, whose departure was flagged by NZME in early November.
🧠 Why This Appointment Is a Big Deal
This is not a routine internal promotion.
MacAvoy brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across high-growth technology and marketplace businesses in New Zealand and offshore, including:
Xero
Retail Works
OnSend.com
Goodnest
His background sits squarely at the intersection of marketplaces, data, product development and customer acquisition — exactly where the property portal battle is being fought.
📊 OneRoof’s Mission: Growth, Scale and Relevance
As Chief of OneRoof, MacAvoy will be tasked with:
📈 Driving audience and revenue growth
🧮 Using data and analytics to sharpen performance
🛠️ Accelerating product and platform development
🤝 Strengthening value for agents, vendors and buyers
In a statement, NZME said MacAvoy has a proven ability to:
“Build platforms that connect businesses with consumers, supported by deep expertise in product, data analytics and online customer acquisition.”
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⚔️ A Brutal Competitive Landscape
OneRoof operates in one of New Zealand’s most competitive digital arenas — online property listings — going head-to-head with entrenched rivals:
Trade Me Property
With agents scrutinising ROI harder than ever and the property market recalibrating after a tough 2025, portal performance now matters more than brand legacy.
This appointment signals NZME’s intent to push harder, faster and smarter.
🎙️ NZME CEO: “Perfect Fit for the Next Phase”
NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said the company was confident MacAvoy could lead OneRoof through its next growth cycle.
“James’ exceptional track record of building and scaling technology platforms, combined with his deep understanding of marketplaces and consumer behaviour, makes him the perfect fit for this role.”
🗣️ MacAvoy: Focus on World-Class Property Experience
MacAvoy says his focus will be on using technology and design to lift OneRoof’s relevance with Kiwi property seekers.
“I’m excited to join the OneRoof team and look forward to harnessing world-class technology and design to deliver Kiwis the ultimate property marketplace experience they deserve.”
🧠 The Bigger Picture: Signals From NZME
This appointment sends a clear message:
📌 NZME sees OneRoof as a strategic growth asset
📌 The property portal war is far from settled
📌 Data, UX and scale — not just listings — will decide winners
📌 Expect sharper competition for agents’ marketing spend in 2026
With a seasoned marketplace operator now in charge, OneRoof is gearing up to compete harder in a crowded and unforgiving digital property market.
SOURCE: NZHERALD