Russell Cohen has been appointed as the Group Managing Director and CEO of PEXA Group Ltd, with the appointment taking effect from 31 March 2025, as announced by the Board of Directors.
In his role as Group Managing Director of Operations at Grab, Russell Cohen is responsible for leading a team of 3,000 across seven countries. His focus on operations, platform safety, and business performance has been pivotal to Grab’s growth and regional success.
Cohen’s career before Grab included serving as Board Director and Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Strategy at SoftBank C&S in Tokyo, a position he assumed following SoftBank’s purchase of Brightstar Corp. This role followed SoftBank’s acquisition of Brightstar Corp., where he previously served as Regional Managing Director for Asia. In this capacity, he oversaw operations across nine markets and played a crucial role in establishing the company’s presence in Greater China, headquartered in Hong Kong.
Mark Joiner, Chair of PEXA Group, emphasized that Mr. Cohen’s appointment culminated from a comprehensive external search. The objective was to identify a leader capable of steering the company’s strategic trajectory and further capitalize on the robust foundation laid by Glenn King during the past five years.
Mark Joiner, Chair of PEXA Group, pointed out that Mr. Cohen’s appointment came after a thorough external search, with the aim of selecting a leader who would continue driving the company’s strategic direction and build upon the solid foundation established over the past five years under Glenn King.
A dynamic leader with extensive experience in scaling platform businesses, Russell Cohen has successfully driven commercial transformation in several countries, notably with Grab, the market leader. The PEXA Group’s search for a new Group MD and CEO was focused on selecting a candidate with robust strategic capabilities, a history of achieving commercial results and innovation, strong industry and regulatory knowledge, and a commitment to people and customer satisfaction.
Cohen expressed his excitement at the prospect of joining an organization at the forefront of transforming the property market. He is invigorated by the significant growth potential that lies ahead for PEXA, particularly in leveraging its strengths as a platform and digital solutions provider. He intends to drive sustainable value for shareholders, customers, employees, and all stakeholders through the strategic execution of initiatives with a disciplined approach and a strong focus on returns. Cohen also expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Melbourne to join the PEXA team and collaborate with leadership across Australia and the UK. He eagerly anticipates building upon the robust foundation established by Glenn King during his tenure.
King will step down as Group MD and CEO on 28 February 2025, following the release of the Group’s half-year results for the period ending 31 December 2024. He will continue to assist with the leadership transition in an advisory capacity through June 2025. From 1 March to 31 March 2025, PEXA’s Chief Financial Officer, Scott Butterworth, will serve as Acting Group MD and CEO.
The PEXA Board, represented by Mark Joiner, extended their sincere thanks to Glenn King for his dedicated leadership since joining the company as Group MD and CEO in November 2019. Joiner commended King’s passionate stewardship of the business.
Glenn King was instrumental in driving the growth of PEXA’s core Exchange business, which now boasts nearly 90% national coverage and has become a key component of Australia’s property ecosystem. He also played a pivotal role in the company’s successful listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2021. Since then, King has overseen the expansion of PEXA’s growth initiatives into the UK and guided several strategic acquisitions. The PEXA Board extends its sincere gratitude to Glenn and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.
