Former Inman CEO Emily Paquette Named Chief Strategy Officer at PLACE
The real estate technology sector is buzzing with a significant leadership development: Emily Paquette, the former chief executive officer of Inman, has been appointed as the new Chief Strategy Officer at PLACE. This high-profile move signals a bold new chapter for PLACE as it accelerates its ambitions in consumer growth, content, and strategic market expansion. For industry observers, the appointment is a clear indication that PLACE is serious about broadening its footprint far beyond its current position as a real estate platform.
Who Is Emily Paquette?
Emily Paquette is a well-recognized figure in the real estate media and technology landscape. As the former CEO of Inman, one of the most influential news and events organizations serving the real estate industry, she built a strong reputation for strategic vision, audience development, and brand-building at scale. Her tenure at Inman positioned her as a thought leader who understood not only the pulse of the real estate market but also the media infrastructure that shapes how industry professionals consume information, make decisions, and grow their businesses.
Paquette's leadership experience spans content strategy, audience engagement, partnerships, and organizational growth — precisely the kind of multidisciplinary expertise that a company like PLACE needs as it looks to expand its consumer-facing capabilities. Her transition from leading a media powerhouse to becoming the strategic architect of a fast-growing real estate platform is a move that underscores the increasing convergence of media, technology, and real estate services.
What Is PLACE?
For those unfamiliar, PLACE is a technology-driven real estate platform designed to empower high-performing real estate teams and agents with the tools, systems, and support they need to scale their businesses. The company offers an integrated suite of services including transaction management, marketing, lead generation, and business operations — essentially functioning as a full-stack solution for real estate professionals who want to grow without the friction typically associated with running a real estate operation.
Founded by Ben Kinney and Chris Suarez, PLACE has grown steadily by positioning itself as a comprehensive business partner for top real estate teams across North America. With a model built around performance, efficiency, and scalable growth, PLACE has attracted significant attention from both agents and investors who see it as a next-generation approach to building and sustaining a real estate business in a rapidly evolving market.
Paquette's Role as Chief Strategy Officer
In her new role as Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Paquette will oversee several critical areas that could reshape PLACE's trajectory in the marketplace. Her responsibilities will center on three interconnected pillars: consumer growth strategy, the company's consumer content platform, and strategic acquisitions.
Consumer Growth Strategy
One of Paquette's primary mandates will be to drive PLACE's consumer growth strategy. This is a particularly significant area of focus for the company as the real estate industry continues to shift toward a more consumer-first model. With buyers and sellers increasingly empowered by digital tools and information, platforms that can authentically connect with consumers — not just agents — stand to gain a meaningful competitive advantage. Paquette's deep understanding of audience development and engagement makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead this charge.
Consumer Content Platform
Paquette will also lead PLACE's consumer content platform, a role that draws directly on her editorial and media background at Inman. Content remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools available for building brand trust, generating organic traffic, and nurturing long-term customer relationships. Under her leadership, PLACE's content strategy is expected to evolve into a more robust, consumer-facing operation — one that educates, engages, and ultimately converts homebuyers and sellers who are navigating one of the most complex financial decisions of their lives.
The development of a strong consumer content platform could also help PLACE differentiate itself in a crowded real estate technology market. While many platforms focus heavily on agent-side tools, a compelling content experience for consumers could become a meaningful driver of organic lead flow and brand loyalty.
Strategic Acquisitions
Perhaps most intriguing is Paquette's role in guiding PLACE's strategic acquisitions. As the real estate technology space continues to mature and consolidate, the ability to identify, evaluate, and integrate the right acquisition targets is a critical competency for any company looking to scale quickly and intelligently. Paquette's industry relationships, combined with her strategic acumen, position her well to help PLACE identify opportunities that align with its long-term growth vision.
Why This Appointment Matters for the Real Estate Industry
The appointment of Emily Paquette as Chief Strategy Officer at PLACE is more than just a personnel announcement — it is a signal about where the real estate industry is heading. The lines between real estate technology, media, and consumer services are blurring rapidly. Companies that can successfully integrate all three will be best positioned to capture market share in a landscape defined by digital-first consumers who expect seamless, information-rich experiences at every stage of their real estate journey.
Paquette's arrival at PLACE also reflects a broader trend of talent movement between real estate media organizations and technology companies. As platforms like PLACE grow in scale and ambition, they increasingly need leaders who can bridge the worlds of content, consumer behavior, and business strategy — and Paquette fits that profile precisely.
Looking Ahead
With Emily Paquette now at the helm of its strategic direction, PLACE is clearly positioning itself for a new phase of growth — one that is more consumer-focused, content-driven, and acquisitive than the company has been historically. The real estate industry will be watching closely to see how her leadership shapes the platform's evolution in the months and years ahead.
For real estate professionals, investors, and industry watchers alike, this is a development worth tracking. PLACE has long been considered one of the more innovative platforms in the agent services space, and with Paquette bringing her formidable strategic and media expertise to the table, the company's next chapter looks poised to be its most ambitious yet.