Michael and Kenny Bruce are reported to be rejoining online agency in deal with Carphone Warehouse owner Sir Charles Dunstone.
10th Mar 20260 1,075 1 minute read Simon Cairnes
The original founders of Purplebricks are staging a shock return to the firm they built into one of the UK’s biggest estate agency disruptor brands.
According to a report on Sky News, Michael Bruce and his brother Kenny (main picture) are rejoining Purplebricks as part of a deal with its current owner, Carphone Warehouse billionaire Sir Charles Dunstone. The agreement will see the brothers take a significant minority stake through Dunstone’s investment vehicle, Freston Ventures.
Sir Charles Dunstone
Michael Bruce will become Chief Executive, while Kenny Bruce will share responsibility for helping return the business to “sustainable long-term growth”.
Michael Bruce says: “My brother and I are delighted to return home to the business we founded and are excited to work with Sir Charles Dunstone and the Purplebricks team to drive success and build market share in the UK housing market.
We will work tirelessly to deliver an exceptional service for every homeowner whilst leading the business through its next phase of growth.”
“We will work tirelessly to deliver an exceptional service for every homeowner whilst leading the business through its next phase of growth.”
Purplebricks was launched in 2014 with a fixed-fee model in a direct challenge to traditional estate agencies and their commission structures. The firm floated on the London Stock Exchange the following year and at one stage claimed to be handling around 10% of residential property sales in Britain.
However, concerns over its international expansion led to Bruce stepping down as Chief Executive in 2019, after which the company’s financial performance continued to deteriorate.
£1 saleIn June 2023, it was sold for a token £1 to rival online agency Strike, which was backed by Dunstone. Strike then retired its own brand and rebranded the business under the Purplebricks name later that year.
As recently as September 2025, The Neg reported that Strike Director Robert Clarkson was warning there was “significant doubt” over the future of the group, after it announced big losses.
TagsPurplebricks 10th Mar 20260 1,075 1 minute read Simon Cairnes Share Facebook X LinkedIn Share via Email
