Mike Ryan joins PLACE to lead business development

Real estate services and technology platform PLACE is welcoming a new executive. In a post on LinkedIn on Tuesday, Mike Ryan announced he was joining PLACE where he will serve as executive vice president of business development 

Prior to this he had been with OJO Labs for over a decade, most recently serving as the chief partnership officer of mortgage lender Lower’s real estate division after OJO’s listing portal Movoto was acquired by Lower in 2025. 

In his post, Ryan said that leaving Lower “wasn’t an easy decision.” 

“Over the past 10+ years, I had the privilege of working alongside incredibly talented people, building strategic partnerships and helping grow businesses that have made a meaningful impact on the real estate industry,” Ryan wrote. 

He also thanked fellow Lower real estate leaders Angela Dunham and John Berkowitz, as well as Lower’s vice president of product Adam Tao. 

Ryan wrote that his decision to move was not about leaving something behind, but joining something he believes “has the potential to redefine what’s possible.”

“PLACE has quietly built one of the most impressive platforms in residential real estate, combining technology, services, and operational expertise to help the industry’s top professionals build more valuable businesses while delivering a better experience for consumers,” Ryan wrote. “The vision is bold, but what convinced me was the team’s ability to execute.”

In his new role, Ryan said he will be “focused on expanding strategic partnerships and accelerating the distribution of PLACE’s technology, services, and consumer solutions.”

In joining PLACE, Ryan is reuniting with former colleague Chris Heller, who had previously served as the chief growth officer of Lower’s real estate division. Heller joined PLACE in November 2025, where he currently serves as the firm’s chief revenue officer.

In an emailed statement, Chris Suarez, the co-founder of PLACE, told HousingWire that he and his team are “excited for [Ryan] to play a critical role in helping us accelerate growth, so we can get the PLACE platform and operational engine into the hands of more top real estate professionals, and help more consumers on their homeownership journey.” 

Lower did not immediately respond to HousingWire’s inquiry regarding the firm’s plans to fill Ryan’s vacated role.