# Alex Chesterman

> Alex Chesterman OBE is a British entrepreneur and angel investor who co-founded ScreenSelect, which merged with LoveFilm, and Zoopla, the predecessor of the property group now known as Houseful. He led Zoopla through its 2014 flotation and the subsequent £2.2 billion ZPG sale in 2018, then founded Cazoo. He left Cazoo’s board in December 2023, before the company entered administration in May 2024. His 2026 activity includes backing BRULO and Atheni.

- **Role:** Angel investor; co-founder and former CEO of Zoopla, predecessor to Houseful
- **Organizations:** Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Bagelmania, ScreenSelect, LoveFilm, Zoopla, ZPG, Houseful (historical connection through predecessor Zoopla), Cazoo
- **Nationality:** British
- **Education:** St Paul’s School, London, Bachelor’s degree in Economics, University College London
- **Known for:** Co-founded ScreenSelect, which merged with LoveFilm before Amazon’s 2011 acquisition., Co-founded Zoopla and led its 2014 London flotation., Led ZPG before its £2.2 billion acquisition by Silver Lake in 2018.

## Career timeline

- **1990** — Graduated from University College London and chose a Hard Rock Cafe management programme in Florida over starting a banking job.
- **1991–1998** — Worked at Planet Hollywood, becoming executive vice president.
- **1999** — Launched Bagelmania in London; the chain reached nine shops.
- **2003** — Co-founded ScreenSelect with William Reeve.
- **2006** — ScreenSelect merged with LoveFilm.
- **2007** — Co-founded Zoopla with Simon Kain; the website launched in 2008.
- **2011** — Amazon acquired LoveFilm.
- **2012** — Zoopla merged with Digital Property Group.
- **2014** — Led Zoopla Property Group’s London flotation at approximately £919 million valuation.
- **2016** — Awarded an OBE for services to digital entrepreneurship.
- **2018** — ZPG sold to Silver Lake for £2.2 billion; stepped down as CEO at the end of September. Founded Cazoo.
- **2019** — Cazoo began trading in December.
- **2021** — Cazoo listed in New York through a SPAC transaction at a $7 billion valuation.
- **2023-04** — Moved from Cazoo CEO to executive chairman, effective 1 April.
- **2023-12** — Left Cazoo’s board in connection with debt restructuring.
- **2024-05** — Cazoo entered administration after his departure.
- **2026** — Reported among BRULO and Atheni investors; appeared at Goodlord Leaders Forum.

## Achievements

- Co-founded ScreenSelect, which merged with LoveFilm before Amazon’s 2011 acquisition.
- Co-founded Zoopla and led its 2014 London flotation.
- Led ZPG before its £2.2 billion acquisition by Silver Lake in 2018.
- Named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013.
- Awarded an OBE for services to digital entrepreneurship in 2016.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Named as an angel backer in Atheni’s £350,000 funding round.
- **2026-04** — Featured as a speaker at the Goodlord Leaders Forum.
- **2026-01** — Named among investors backing BRULO’s funding round of more than £1 million.

## Links

- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/AlexChesterman

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alex-chesterman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21