Grace Hill confirms the appointment of technology and real estate software executive Matt Cotter as its new CEO.
He will be handing leadership of the property operations technology provider to a veteran SaaS operator. The appointment follows as the company widens its AI-driven platform and deepens its presence across the Build to Rent industry.
Matt succeeds Kendall Pretzer, who has led Grace Hill since 2021. The senior leadership shift comes as property owners and operators are seeking integrated technology platforms which combine training, compliance, reputation management, market intelligence and operational analytics.
“Matt has a proven track record of driving growth and creating long-term value at technology-enabled real estate platforms, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Grace Hill.
“His experience and perspective will be instrumental as the Company enters the next chapter. We truly appreciate Kendall’s leadership and contributions over the past five years, including leading strategic acquisitions that expanded Grace Hill’s technology capabilities.
“In her new role as Chief Strategy Officer, she will remain a vital voice for our customers and the industry. This transition reflects Kendall’s decision to pursue new priorities while remaining a key part of Grace Hill’s future, and we fully support her.”
Rob Fraser, Partner, Aurora Capital Partners
The new appointment brings over 20 years of leadership experience across software, financial technology and real estate technology. Most recently, Matt served as the CEO of PairSoft, a financial automation platform focused on mid-market and enterprise organisations.
“Grace Hill has built a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the real estate technology sector, helping owners and operators reduce operating risk and develop top talent. Under Kendall’s leadership, Grace Hill has fostered a high-performance, values-driven culture, while delivering solutions tailored to clients’ specific needs.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead such a strong Company as we continue to expand our technology platform and capabilities.”
Matt Cotter, CEO, Grace Hill
Matt’s earlier roles included executive Vice President at Altus Group and President and CEO of ExactBid, both companies with strong relations to commercial real estate technology and data services.
His appointment reflects a wider trend across real estate technology, as platform providers are gradually competing on their ability to link fragmented operational data and deliver actionable insights through AI.
“Leading Grace Hill for these last five years has been one of the great privileges of my career, and I am excited for what comes next – for our customers, our team, and the industry.
“This new phase gives me the opportunity to pursue personal priorities while staying deeply connected to our customers. Matt, alongside the leadership team and Aurora, is well-positioned to drive Grace Hill’s next chapter.
“I am confident that Grace Hill will continue to serve our industry with the same dedication, innovation, and customer focus that has always defined us.”
Kendall Pretzer, Chief Strategy Officer, Grace Hill
As owners face rising pressure to enhance resident experience, workforce performance, and operational efficiency, technology vendors are growing beyond point solutions in favour of integrated ecosystems.
The new appointment assists Grace Hill to speed up its evolution from a collection of property management tools into a more comprehensive performance platform for real estate operators.
Grace Hill’s PerformanceHQ platform uses AI to collect data from training programs, policy management, surveys, mystery shopping, reputation management, leasing technologies and market intelligence tools, which enables operators to have a wider view of portfolio performance and operational risk.
Aurora Capital Partners, who is Grace Hill’s private equity owner, mentions Matt’s experience building technology-enabled real estate businesses and growth at software platforms.
The firm’s continued investment in Grace Hill aligns with a wider consolidation trend in PropTech, where larger platforms are gaining complementary capabilities via acquisitions and product expansion.
Grace Hill currently serves over 500,000 real estate professionals across around 2,800 companies. Its customer base varies from property owners and operators seeking technology tools to improve workforce development, reduce compliance risk and improve portfolio performance.
For the company, the leadership transition comes as AI and operational intelligence become more important in competitive differentiators in property technology.
Matt’s background in scaling software businesses and managing enterprise technology platforms allows the company to utilise on increasing demand for data-driven tools which help real estate operators navigate a more complex and performance-focused market.
