# Dirk Wakeham

> Dirk Wakeham is the Dallas-based president and CEO of RealPage, returning in November 2025 after an earlier term as president. He founded LeasingDesk, later acquired by RealPage, led PayLease/Zego, held leadership roles across specialized software businesses, and served as an operating managing director at Vista Equity Partners. His current agenda includes customer partnership, dependable operations and AI supported by governed real estate data.

- **Role:** President and Chief Executive Officer at RealPage, Inc.
- **Organizations:** RealPage, Inc., LeasingDesk, Multifamily Internet Ventures, LLC, Western National Group, StorageAhead, storEDGE, Lanyon, Kibo, PayLease, Zego, Vista Equity Partners, Westlake Ventures
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (per current RealPage biography), California State University, Fullerton
- **Known for:** Founded LeasingDesk and continued leading it following its 2007 acquisition by RealPage., Served as RealPage president during the period of its 2010 IPO., Led PayLease/Zego before its 2021 acquisition by Global Payments, announced at approximately $925 million including a tax asset.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked at Western National Group, rising to senior vice president with responsibility for enterprise systems.
- **2000** — Founded LeasingDesk, according to his public career account; an SEC biography dates the parent legal entity to 2001.
- **2007** — RealPage acquired Multifamily Internet Ventures, parent of LeasingDesk, in April; Wakeham continued running its operations.
- **2009** — Became RealPage president in late 2009, according to its 2012 proxy biography.
- **2014** — Appointed CEO and board member of StorageAhead in September.
- **2016** — Appointed president and COO of Lanyon in March.
- **2017** — Kibo COO appointment reported in February.
- **2018** — Appointed CEO of PayLease in October.
- **2019** — Led PayLease during its acquisition of Zego and adoption of the Zego name.
- **2021** — Zego acquired by Global Payments; appointed operating managing director for Vista Equity Partners Foundation Fund in September.
- **2025** — Returned to RealPage as president and CEO and joined its board on November 11.
- **2026** — Led RealPage during its July acquisition of Cherre and August introduction of the Lumina AI Suite.

## Achievements

- Founded LeasingDesk and continued leading it following its 2007 acquisition by RealPage.
- Served as RealPage president during the period of its 2010 IPO.
- Led PayLease/Zego before its 2021 acquisition by Global Payments, announced at approximately $925 million including a tax asset.
- Appointed to lead RealPage again in November 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — RealPage and Funnel announced a partnership covering applications, screening and payments on October 13.
- **2026-10** — Featured alongside L.D. Salmanson in Commercial Observer’s Power Tech & AI coverage on October 2.
- **2026-08** — RealPage introduced the Lumina AI Suite at RealWorld in Denver on August 10.
- **2026-07** — RealPage announced its completed acquisition of Cherre on July 14.
- **2026-04** — Appeared on Multifamily Talks with Krista Hurley to discuss trust, transparency and accountability.

## Links

- Website: https://www.realpage.com/company/management-team/dirk-wakeham/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkwakeham

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/dirk-wakeham
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23