EYE NEWSFLASH: Co-founder Kenny Bruce to leave Purplebricks

| Rosalind Renshaw

Co-founder Kenny Bruce is leaving Purplebricks.

News of the departure has just been confirmed.

It follows the departure of his brother Michael who was global chief executive. Kenny was sales director.

A statement this morning from Purplebricks said:  “Purplebricks confirms that Kenny Bruce has decided to leave the business on 26 June.

“We’d like to thank Kenny for the role he played in creating Purplebricks and helping grow the business into the UK’s leading estate agent.

“We’ll build on the foundations laid by both Kenny and Michael, as we focus our future efforts on using data and technology to reset the service standards of the industry.”

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59 Comments

  1. htsnom79
    June 21, 2019 at 11:52

    Kenny and Michael, as we focus our future efforts on using data and technology to reset the service standards of the industry.

    Try using people skills, it works.

    Report
    1. ArthurHouse02
      June 21, 2019 at 14:27

      I think he should have stated “reset the service standards of this company”

      Report
    2. Michelle Lockwood
      June 21, 2019 at 23:41

      htsnom79 you know nothing about your competitor and you clearly fear what you don’t know. Try to hone your people skills. Start by telling us your real name. Or are you hiding the fact that you’re banned from going online and being within 50ft of a school playground?

      Report
      1. Naysayer
        June 22, 2019 at 08:23

        A few drinks before you posted last night Michelle Lockwood? You seem a bit touchy. There are still a few anti PB comments on here that you haven’t replied to.

        Report
        1. htsnom79
          June 22, 2019 at 09:29

          Lol, Naysayer I’m convinced its another poster channelling their alter ego, it’s cyberduck in drag, think Les ( or Lesley ) Conroy by Tim Healy in the magnificent Benidorm 🙂

          Report
  2. Moveaside01
    June 21, 2019 at 11:57

    Surely you have to have ‘Service Standards’ in place in the first instance before you can reset them?

    Report
    1. Michelle Lockwood
      June 21, 2019 at 23:44

      Stand aside! Moveaside01 has had a revelation. Or is it just wind?
      What are you going on about Moveaside01??
       

      Report
  3. RichardHill61
    June 21, 2019 at 11:58

    I bet both the Bruce’s are crying into their pina coladas in the Caribbean on their private yachts!!

    Report
  4. natural_selection
    June 21, 2019 at 11:59

    And the only winners in this whole debacle walk away scot free, with millions in the bank. An example of crony capitalism at it’s finest.

    Report
  5. Hillofwad71
    June 21, 2019 at 12:02

    Haway  the lads !!! Yep it must have been difficult  fitting in a bit of work amongst his racehorses and football club  Could it be that Sporting Ken fancies his chances of entering Team GB for the Olympics

    Take the money and run just like the lads at Ewemove

    Report
  6. Ostrich17
    June 21, 2019 at 12:03

    Timing is everything:
    – When the results are announced, it will all be the fault of the previous management.
     
    – Axel Springer will be saddling up the white charger, ready to ride to the rescue after July 4th.
     
    – Expect the cull of the Bruce management team to begin in earnest.      

    Report
  7. Letting agent 101
    June 21, 2019 at 12:25

    FACE

     

    BOVVERED

    Report
    1. Cornwell26
      June 21, 2019 at 15:29

      Bovvered enough to leave a comment….

      Report
  8. 40yearvetran08
    June 21, 2019 at 12:26

    You have to take your hats off to the Kenny brothers. They conned Mr Woodford and a bunch of investors into believing they had found the golden fleece. It was great fun for them whilst it lasted but who wants to hang around when the going gets tough when you can devote your time to spending your spoils. I can see PB bumping along until the cash runs out, hopefully that will not be to long now, I cannot see them making the Olympics. Will the Olympic committee post on trustpilot?

    Report
    1. PeeBee
      June 21, 2019 at 12:54

      “You have to take your hats off to the Kenny brothers.”

      Sorry, 40yearveteran08 – but no I don’t… and I don’t suggest anyone else should either.

      There is nothing in the potentially irreparable damage our industry has suffered to applaud.

      Report
      1. padymagic
        June 21, 2019 at 13:13

        PeeBee

        A: I agree with you

        except

        B: If I had developed PB, duped millions out of naive investors, banks a shed load of cash in my bank account and then retired while still young. Would I, should I? or simply say “stuff em” and take the money.

         

        Ironically. Every time I get a client asking for a lower fee (standard 1.5% plus VAT) I simply say. “if you don’t want the service try PB, you could save thousands, but before you do, just check their share price or ask someone who tried them.

        Thanks PB I’m getting higher fees than ever.

        Report
        1. PeeBee
          June 21, 2019 at 13:30

          padymagic
           
          “If I had developed PB, duped millions out of naive investors…”
           
          If you did the first part of that, and had developed PB – and made it what it should have been – then I would not only be doffing my cap at you but I would probably be working for you to boot (if you’d have me, that is…)
           
          If you did the latter then you would unconditionally deserve to be investigated and held accountable for your actions.

          Report
          1. padymagic
            June 21, 2019 at 13:50

            fraid I did neither,
            still poorer than the Bruces (by a long chalk too)
            🙂
             

            Report
        2. Michelle Lockwood
          June 21, 2019 at 23:55

          So padymagic are you so stupid that you think share price affects service standards?? 
           
          Learn about your competitor then try forming an opinion. Ignorance can’t be used as an excuse for misleading statements. 
           

          Report
          1. padymagic
            June 22, 2019 at 09:04

            Hey Michelle

            How ya doin?

            still sucking them lemons, I see !

            Report
      2. Michelle Lockwood
        June 21, 2019 at 23:51

        PeeBee, your industry is a joke. You lie, deceive, cheat and con your way through every working day. People don’t trust estate agents and for good reason; you’re one of them. Get off your high horse and take a close look at your High Street cronies over-valuing to gain instructions, conditionally selling financial services, BACKHANDERS from your developer friends…. The list is endless. 

        Report
        1. smile please
          June 22, 2019 at 09:12

          Michelle,

          I do not believe High Street agents over value on mass (sure there are a few,sadly) but even if they do they do not get paid as it does not sell.

          Purplebricks, Yopa any other onliner is incentivise to over value as they are paid a £150 listing fee.

           

          Report
        2. padymagic
          June 22, 2019 at 09:17

          Ms Lockwood,
          Sucking lemons?
          No you are deffinately on something a little stronger !

          Report
        3. Property Pundit
          June 23, 2019 at 13:23

          Pretty good sentence structure and grammar for someone so obviously bladdered!.

          Report
  9. GPL
    June 21, 2019 at 12:33

     

     

    Purpletricks? NOT the UK’s leading Estate Agent!

     

    The UK’s leading OVERPRICED Property Listing Company.

     

    Well done Kenny “Catch me if You can” Bruce – a nice little earner. Well done to the PB LPE’s for helping Kenny on his way, hope you helped him carry those suitcases of lucre.

     

     

     

    Report
  10. Blondie
    June 21, 2019 at 12:34

    So pleased I had the moral compass and integrity never join this farce of a company. Bye

    Report
    1. PeeBee
      June 21, 2019 at 13:31

      I take my hat off to you, Blondie.

      Report
    2. Michelle Lockwood
      June 21, 2019 at 23:58

      Moral compass? You’re a high street estate agent; how is your moral compass still working??

      Report
  11. Woodentop
    June 21, 2019 at 12:36

    we focus our future efforts on using data and technology to reset the service standards of the industry.”  
     
    More to spin and conmissary like.  
     
    4th July fireworks is getting closer, I think every reader of EYE will be glued to see what is announced.

    Report
  12. Knowitall
    June 21, 2019 at 12:48

    Some news flash… hours behind.

    Report
  13. J1
    June 21, 2019 at 12:50

    Good

    Report
  14. The Hero
    June 21, 2019 at 12:51

    Humpty Dumpty sat on the (purple) wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.  
     
    I suspect no one will care enough to try and put him back together again.

    Report
    1. ARC
      June 21, 2019 at 15:46

      No but the big pile of cash will probably soften his fall!

      Report
    2. Michelle Lockwood
      June 22, 2019 at 00:03

      The Hero. Tell us about your business. What have you achieved? How would your customers rate your service? How did the Ombudsman sum up after the last complaint? “Inadequacies beyond belief”

      Report
      1. The Hero
        June 24, 2019 at 10:07

        How on earth would knowing anything about my business have any impact on my opinion of this article?!

         

        Nice to see you back out with your well-informed and sensible arguments though…

        Report
  15. Londonbound
    June 21, 2019 at 13:26

    Number one estate agency in the UK.

    Enough said.

     

     

    Report
    1. GeorgeOrwell
      June 21, 2019 at 15:29

      How do you cope with the embarrassment of working for PB, if you are a proper estate agent?

      Obviously if you are an LPE then you’re grateful to be in a job

      I suppose you flush any self-esteem you have away, as soon as you slip into your PB Onesie

      Someone’s got to work for them I suppose? When I say work? I mean in the most basic form

      Whatever, you have a nice day in your virtual world. Just don’t tell any self-respecting estate agent what you do for a living, unless you have earplugs to drown out the laughter.

      Report
      1. Michelle Lockwood
        June 22, 2019 at 00:10

        GeorgeOrwell 
        Vacancy – Estate Agent
        No formal qualifications required
        A chimpanzee in a suit will do
        Must be able to recognise the difference between a house and a toilet roll holder.
         
        Apply within

        Report
        1. GeorgeOrwell
          June 22, 2019 at 11:25

          I’ll cry myself to sleep tonight Michelle after reading your reply, tears of laughter, thinking about you

          Who knows whether you are female or male or gender neutral as you hide behind your “Michelle Lockwood”. However, your bitterness shines through and you must be wonderful company at the Annual Troll Conventions

          We are descendants of Chimpanzees, wearing suits is part of our evolution, jot that down with your crayons

          Report
  16. fluter
    June 21, 2019 at 13:52

    Share price 99.6p. Wonder what Axel Springer’s view is????

    Report
  17. smile please
    June 21, 2019 at 16:17

    Guessing they are looking at now taking the company private. Try and keep the BS running for a couple of years and relaunch the IPO

    Rinse and repeat. (Same as Countrywide)

    Report
  18. DoSomeWork
    June 21, 2019 at 16:44

    So looking like the Bruce brothers leaving PB has caused you all to go into a massive panic. With them gone what you all gonna moan about? My guess is the Team GB sponsorship for next 18 months. Considering how badly you all rated the Bruce brothers them leaving must be a massive positive for the future of PB.

    Report
    1. JustPlainSavage04
      June 21, 2019 at 17:25

      Panic? Not really, it was expected, it’s been expected for the last seven years.

      I think all of these recent events show the credibility of the company

      Report
      1. DoSomeWork
        June 21, 2019 at 18:50

        In the opinion of you lot right? And let’s face it you lot on here are just either jealous, scared of change, or bored so spend all day on this site.

        Report
        1. JustPlainSavage04
          June 21, 2019 at 19:19

          Again, you are wrong.

          Jealous it may seem, but it’s just hard working people fighting back against an agency who slated the high street for a number of years for it to all fall apart. For hard working people to lose their jobs, for fees to be cut so small it doesn’t make it worth doing the work.

          Its like being bullied for a number of years by somebody and then seeing them crumble, it’s a nice feeling.

          PB is based on lies and propaganda and you know it is.

          Liars always get found out and exactly why your Leaders Michael and Kenny Bruce have left.

          One day you will understand, but I guess not right now, especially with your conference around the corner on the 10th. How rude of them on a Wednesday right?

          Good luck with your PB journey.

           

           

           

          Report
          1. DoSomeWork
            June 21, 2019 at 19:32

            So PB staff don’t work as hard as you guys and because those people working at PB support the vision of the company and want to try something new they deserve the abuse you lot post on here all day everyday? 

            Report
            1. JustPlainSavage04
              June 21, 2019 at 19:55

              I never said PB staff don’t work hard did I? 
              I implied your  previous leaders are liars and created advertising to attack tradiational estate agents when they didn’t need to for their own financial benefit.
              Not one investor into PB has made a single penny yet multi millions of pounds has been invested.
              And in the process of the Bruce’s getting rich, 1000s of vendors have paid an upfront fee and not sold, people have been mis led, LPEs and LLEs have been promised the world and not earn enough to afford petrol and put food on the table. 
              I know and you know that the model works for the Territory owners in active areas, the LPEs within their TO patch are scraping by. Especially with the underpins now being stopped. 
              You need to understand the Bruce’s have left because they have seen the company is not sustainable and it’s not what it was when they brainwashed people.
              The UK operation may have made a profit but have you ever considered monies from the USA and Australia were put into the UK figures to ensure a profit??
              its good that people have a vision and want to change things for the better, but PB isn’t that, estate agency is a people person business based on trust. 
              Anyways it’s friday night, I hope you’re not doing that 8 pm valuation 😉 
              if you are send me the linked in post link so I can like it for you. 
              Xx
               

              Report
      2. PeeBee
        June 21, 2019 at 21:26

        JustPlainSavage04
         
        Sorry – but I’ve got to ask…
         
        …why the complete sea-change of opinion from 2017?
         
        (please note – I ain’t complaining)

        Report
      3. Michelle Lockwood
        June 22, 2019 at 00:12

        JustPlainSavage04 what would you know about credibility? Tell everyone your real name so they can look you up and find out how credible your business is

        Report
        1. Quags
          June 22, 2019 at 10:08

          Michelle, I really think you need to lay off the mothers ruin late at night.  You have a problem.

          “Hello my name is Michelle Lockwood and I’m an alcoholic”

           

          It’s the only way to explain your personal attacks on here. Lets point your oh so critical witches finger back at you.  Lets see your credibility, your qualifications, your results.

           

          Yours, an award winning, qualified proper estate agent with binders full of happy vendor questionnaires.  And no, I won’t tell you, it’s the internet, muppet.

          Report
          1. Ostrich17
            June 22, 2019 at 10:34

            Michelle has seen her future through the bottom of her glass – and it doesn’t look rosy.

            With Kenny gone, the Purple People Cult is dead – soon to be followed by a cull of the Bruce Believers.

            Will Axel Springer feel the schadenfreude or just Conmisery ?

            Report
  19. dantheman78
    June 21, 2019 at 19:42

    DSW 
    what a spanner 
    nuff said 

    Report
  20. MTOM1
    June 21, 2019 at 20:00

    this is a real problem for PB. The Bruces were prepared to sail very close to the wind with their spin and I cant see any compliant structure doing the same-can you imagine CWD or LSL doing the same and getting away with it.Plus-Kenny ,love him or not,was a big part of the culture and now he has gone as well as Michael  the whole PB brand is rudderless-look at whose left at senior level-failed agents at best. Im out-back in at 50p if the brand survives.

    Report
  21. cyberbirdjlawsonduck
    June 22, 2019 at 00:26

    Michelle Lockwood = Dork

    Pop back into your Troll Box

    Report
  22. PeeBee
    June 22, 2019 at 10:30

    **  POST FOR THE ATTENTION OF “MICHELLE LOCKWOOD”  **
     
    Dear Ms Lockwood.
     
    Please enlighten us as to the depth and source of your ‘knowledge’ of “our” industry.  Of your experiences ‘as’, or ‘of’, an Estate Agent.
     
    Your posts strongly suggest that you are not now – and potentially never have been – an Estate Agent.  Please clarify whether this is actually the case.
     
    If it is correct, and you are not directly employed within Estate Agency, in which line of business do you actually earn your keep?

    Report
  23. 365 Residential
    June 22, 2019 at 13:00

    Just reading all the replies, so funnny. Been in on my own this morning Sold 1 Let 1, bills paid go home and chill. Laters haters.

    Report
  24. cyber_truth
    June 22, 2019 at 20:24

    Congrats Bruce brothers! They exploited all LPEs and employees in HQ for scraps and walked away with boats of money from the Germans. How could they be so naive?  There were a few friends and family they took care of and still do. The Board acted to late to push these guys out of the business. Kenny was all emotion and would come in each market to shake up all distracting the local teams. I saw it first hand in Aus with his UK business model. What a joke.  Michael would do the same and try to add value, putting their mark on everything from site design (he was known as “Chief Product Officer” by their Global CDO) and all other areas of the business. No one liked them but all kissed up to get praise and be part of their circle to get a taste of their wealth. So sad to see grown up act like that, yet comical 🙂  They made it defined by money so good for them. When they look around, how many real friends (not buying their way) do they have. 

    Report
    1. htsnom79
      June 22, 2019 at 20:57

      And there is not a corporate employee reading this who doesn’t feel a slight twinge, good post.

      Report
  25. HonestJohn
    June 22, 2019 at 09:41

    Oh look, the night troll is back. Why is it that you only ever seem to post after hours Michelle – are you a vampire? Your comments certainly suck!

    Report
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