Carma appoints Owen Wilson as Chair of the Board
Carma’s next phase of growth to be guided by REA Group’s outgoing CEO who oversaw realestate.com.au rise to be Australia's #1 place for property
Carma, Australia’s digital pre-owned car destination, today announced it has appointed Owen Wilson, REA Group (REA) CEO, as Chairman of the Board. Wilson will join Carma CEO Lachlan MacGregor and CCO Yosuke Hall on the company board.
“Having someone of Owen’s calibre join our board is a significant milestone for Carma and a testament to our opportunity as a business. His extensive experience in scaling market leading marketplaces and driving innovation will be invaluable as we enhance Carma as a digital destination, strengthen and scale operations, and set a new benchmark for trust and convenience in the used car industry,” Lachlan MacGregor, Co-Founder & CEO of Carma said.
Wilson’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Carma’s growth. Carma raised $30 million earlier this year to accelerate its revolution of the pre-owned car buying and selling space in Australia. It has built strong momentum, serving thousands of customers to date, with 90%+ of their reviews 5-stars. With growing demand and recent investment, the company is focused on scaling operations, expanding inventory, and continuing to deliver an exceptional digital-first experience for Australian consumers.
With over 3 million used cars sold on average each year in Australia, Carma is uniquely positioned to reshape the $100+ billion used car industry in Australia, which has been plagued with outdated processes and inconsistent standards. In markets like the US, digital-first automotive retailers have scaled to generate billions in annual revenue, proving the strength of this model.
“Carma has built an exceptional foundation and is redefining what the pre-owned car buying experience should look like. The Australian used car market experience for consumers needs to be improved, and Carma’s digital-first approach positions it to lead that transformation. I’m energised by Carma’s mission to transform the industry, and I look forward to working with the board and leadership team to help drive the company’s next phase of growth,” Mr. Wilson said.
Wilson brings decades of operational and strategic experience across multinational and local public businesses. Most recently, he led REA Group, one of the most recognised digital real estate businesses globally. At REA he has overseen significant growth to drive realestate.com.au to be the Australian market leader, through digital transformation, and international expansion.
“At REA, Owen has also been widely regarded for fostering a strong, human-centred culture. His collaborative, considered, and values-driven leadership style clearly aligns with the kind of environment we foster at Carma,” Mr MacGregor said.
Prior to REA Group, Wilson held senior positions at local and multinational organisations including Chandler Mcleod, ANZ, KPMG and BHP. He also serves as a Director of the Hawthorn Football Club since 2020 and Property Finder in Dubai.
About Carma
Carma is a fully digital pre-owned car destination for buying and selling, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company offers a large range of quality pre-owned vehicles at fixed prices, delivered to the home. The quality of each vehicle is assured via an in-house inspection and reconditioning process, warranties, and a 7-day returns policy. Customers can check out online in as little as 10 minutes, with integrated financing. Carma also offers a fast, seamless, and secure way to sell cars with ease and confidence. It’s the better way to buy and sell a car.
Visit carma.com.au to learn more.
