Compass’ top communications exec to depart

Prior to Compass, Post worked for Uber and Bloomberg administration

From left: Compass' Jason Post, CEO Robert Reffkin, and COO Maelle Gavet (Credit: Wharton UPenn)
From left: Compass' Jason Post, CEO Robert Reffkin, and COO Maelle Gavet (Credit: Wharton UPenn)

Jason Post, Compass’ head of communications, is leaving the SoftBank-backed brokerage after nine months on the job.

The former Uber executive is taking a job at Google, he said.

“I’m proud of what I accomplished at Compass, but I’m excited to move on to a new opportunity and I wish everyone at Compass well,” said Post, who gave his notice last week but started telling people Tuesday.

Post joined the real estate firm in January as vice president of communications following the departure of Julie Binder, who had the job for a year and a half.

Prior to Compass, Post worked as Uber’s director of policy and communication for more than three years. Before that, he was a managing director of Teneo Strategy, a consulting firm, and he was a deputy press secretary under New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Post said he’ll be winding down his work at Compass in the next few weeks. In June, Matt Spangler, who was Compass’ chief creative officer, was named chief brand and communications officer.

Compass did not immediately comment on Post’s departure, but it comes at a potentially-sensitive time for the firm, which is widely believed to be plotting an IPO.

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Founded in 2012, Compass’ valuation reached $6.4 billion this summer following a $370 million funding round. Investors in the round included SoftBank’s Vision Fund as well as Dragoneer, a late-stage investor whose participation fueled IPO rumors.

During an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” on Monday to announce A.I.-driven home search tools, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin said it is “likely” Compass will go public in the future. But he declined to offer a timeline.

“I don’t go to sleep at night thinking about an IPO,” he said.

But some industry sources said WeWork’s ill-fated IPO could cast a shadow on proptech companies that are losing money. The co-working giant, once valued at $47 billion, delayed its public offering on Monday amid concern about its financial metrics and corporate governance. Its valuation has been slashed to around $15 billion, according to published reports.

Since April, Compass has parted ways with several high-profile executives, including general counsel David Carp and chief people officer Madan Nagaldinne. In June, three executives in marketing and product resigned or were let go, including chief marketing officer Khurrum Malik, Eytan Seidman, head of product, and Max Henderson, a vice president of product.

At the time, sources said those departures stemmed from tension in the C-suite. Compass portrayed the departures as part of a larger reorganization. In an email to agents, Reffkin said he planned to oversee a streamlined tech team. COO Maelle Gavet would be overseeing Compass’ people and culture department, along with marketing and a new team called “New Ventures.”

The company has been embroiled in a very public legal battle with brokerage conglomerate Realogy, which has accused Compass of attempts at price fixing and “predatory” poaching. Most recently, Compass said it rejected a merger offer from Realogy — a claim Realogy has vehemently denied.