RealPage is turning to a familiar face to lead its next phase of growth.
The Richardson-based real estate software firm appointed Dirk Wakeham as president and CEO, marking his return to the company after more than a decade away. He also joined the firm’s board of directors, Business Wire reported.
Wakeham, a six-time chief executive with deep PropTech and FinTech credentials, previously served as RealPage’s president following its acquisition of LeasingDesk, the risk management platform he founded. His résumé includes senior roles at Vista Equity Partners and leadership stints at Zego, Kibo, Lanyon and storEDGE, where he oversaw software expansions and strategic exits.
Wakeham said returning to RealPage “feels like coming home.” He emphasized the firm’s focus on partnership with property owners and operators, saying the company would continue to deliver great living experiences and “help residents achieve financial wellness.”
The leadership change caps a three-year run under outgoing CEO Dana Jones, who guided the firm through a period of post-acquisition transformation under Vista Equity’s ownership, as well as a Department of Justice antitrust criminal investigation into the firm. That probe scrutinized its pricing practices in the multifamily rental housing industry. The investigation closed in the transition into the Trump Administration in January.
Jones strengthened RealPage’s operations and balance sheet while steering the company deeper into AI-driven tools for pricing, leasing and resident engagement, according to the company’s statement. The firm also said she leaves with the firm in a position of “accelerated innovation and financial discipline.”
In recent years RealPage grew into one of the dominant tech providers in multifamily and rental housing, offering analytics and automation platforms used by property managers, REITs and institutional landlords nationwide. But the company continues to face scrutiny from regulators other than the federal government over its rent-pricing software and growing competition from newer AI-focused startups.
Charles Goodman, RealPage’s board chair, credited Jones for guiding the company through “significant transformation and growth” and said Wakeham’s return signals a renewed focus on innovation and market leadership.
Wakeham’s reappointment suggests Vista is doubling down on RealPage’s original strengths, such as leveraging its data scale and industry ties to stay ahead in a crowded PropTech market increasingly defined by AI capabilities and affordability pressures.
— Eric Weilbacher
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