Alto Software Group (ASG), which recently relaunched as a standalone brand, brings two SaaS superheroes onboard to support the growth and development of its CRM for estate agencies.

Leading the new chapter is Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson, who steps in as CEO (main image, centre). A proven innovator with deep industry expertise, Ric started his career at world-leading design firm Gensler, before transitioning to prop tech and founding Yourkeys, a digital sales progression platform that transformed the way homes are bought and sold. Under his leadership, the company was acquired by Zoopla in 2021.

He will be working alongside new Executive Chair, Derek O’Carroll (main image left), and Chief Revenue Officer, Nick Shaw (main image right) to ramp up product development for its hero product Alto, and ensure estate agents benefit from smarter integrations, AI-powered functionality, and top-tier customer support.

Derek is a seasoned SaaS leader and technology investor who most recently scaled retail-tech platform Brightpearl into a global success, leading to its $360 million acquisition by Sage in 2021. His expertise in driving high-growth tech businesses will support Alto Software Group’s next phase of expansion and customer-focused transformation.

Meanwhile Nick brings over 20 years’ SaaS expertise, including leadership roles at Norton, Symantec and Brightpearl. He will lead revenue growth, operational strategy, and customer success, ensuring estate agents get the tools, support, and innovation they need to thrive.

Now operating as an independent division within Houseful, ASG plans

Making agents’ lives easier

ASG is also expanding its partner ecosystem, ensuring seamless integrations with the tools agents already rely on, while exploring new embedded solutions to enhance their CRM capabilities.

Ric commented: “Estate agents are under more pressure than ever. They don’t need gimmicks – they need software that actually improves their daily operations and helps them sell faster. That’s exactly what we’re delivering.

“Expect a more dynamic, customer-focused Alto. With Derek and Nick on board, we have the leadership in place to sharpen our focus on the fundamentals – saving agents time, making their day-to-day easier, and ensuring Alto is the most valuable tool in their business.”

The leadership shake-up follows a year of significant growth for Alto, with over 100 product updates introduced in 2024, including AI-powered property valuation reports, enhanced mobile functionality, expanded API capabilities, automatic void management, a new referrals platform, and upgraded sales progression tools.