RealtyTrac, a source for comprehensive housing data, hired 20-plus year industry veteran Michael Sawtell to the company as executive vice president and general manager of Consumer Solutions. In this role, Michael is tasked with expanding the company’s suite of consumer products while increasing consumer awareness and demand.
Most recently, Sawtell worked at Local Corp., a local search and advertising technology company, where he served as president and chief operating officer for three years, leading the company to nearly $100 million revenue in his last 12 months. Previously, Sawtell founded Irvine, Calif.-based DigitalPost Interactive, parent company of TheFamilyPost.com and Rovion, a rich media online advertising company located in Boston, which was acquired by Local Corp. in 2011. This was his second stint at Local as he also was instrumental in driving that company to a very successful initial public offering in 2004, according to a company statement.
His award-winning career includes eight years of online, public company executive leadership, championing internet technology innovations by bringing technology and product development teams together with business personnel into one fully integrated enterprise. Sawtell’s extensive operational experience was launched when he was assigned to improve operational efficiencies on Northrop Grumman’s top secret B-2 Stealth Bomber for nearly seven years.
“Michael has had proven success in leading online organizations by focusing on the customer and instituting best practices that position companies for sustainability, profitability and top-line growth, he adds a perfect blend of skills to our team and to this new role at RealtyTrac,” RealtyTrac CEO Jamie Moyle said. “As we look to expand our traffic acquisition and conversion his experience in increasing revenue will help us transform our customer acquisition business and execute our vision of becoming part of every homebuyer’s process.”
“With RealtyTrac’s recent, disruptive entrance into the licensing of tax, deed and mortgage records for over 130 million parcels nationwide in addition to its already renowned proprietary foreclosure database of more than 20 million records, the data is immense and we obviously have some great opportunities,” Sawtell said. “But when you add local neighborhood and environmental data from RealtyTrac’s subsidiary, Homefacts.com, the potential marketplace we can provide for consumers who are in the home buying process becomes even more impressive.
“We're in the midst of an exciting era in real estate and database marketing, and I look forward to this opportunity,” he concluded. “RealtyTrac is looking to enable our customers with the tools and information that are the foundation for making sound real estate decisions before, during and after their homebuying process.”