Entrata Faces Backlash Over Founders Comments
Entrata, a Utah-based real estate software company, is facing a major crisis after its founder and chairman, David Bateman, sent an email containing antisemitic conspiracies to business leaders and elected officials. The email, which was picked up by local and national press, including the Wall Street Journal, has sparked widespread condemnation.
The company, which was founded in 2003 and produces software tools for property managers, has been growing rapidly and was preparing to go public. However, the scandal has put its reputation at risk.
According to Richard Levick, chairman and CEO of LEVICK, a public relations and crisis communications firm in Washington DC, Entrata’s response to the crisis has been swift and effective. “It may be a bit too early to know if this is going to be a classic case study in leadership,” he said. “But it sure looks like it.”
Within hours of the email surfacing, the company took action and David Bateman relinquished his CEO title and duties but remained chairman of the firm’s board of directors.
Related: Crypto sharks circling as battle looms
They also reached out to other tech executives, Jewish organizations, and local advocacy groups to distance themselves from Bateman’s views and offered support to those affected.
Bateman has a history of controversy, having previously founded Allegiance, which he sold to MaritzCX in 2014, and was president of the payments platform Podium. He has also been involved in several public feuds, including a defamation suit with Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola Corp.
It will be important for the company to maintain transparency and continue to condemn antisemitism in all its forms. The swift response to the crisis has drawn praise from crisis counselors, including Levick.
The scandal has had a significant impact on Entrata, with media coverage of the affair dying down following the initial splash of interest. However, the company’s response has been seen as a textbook example of how companies should respond to a potential catastrophe.
Related: Platform Confirms User Account Blocked
Levick noted, “Crisis is not like wine, it doesn’t get better with time.” Entrata’s swift and decisive action has helped to mitigate the damage and prevent the story from having a long tail.
For the people most affected by this development, namely the employees and customers of Entrata, the company’s response has been a relief. It shows that the company is committed to doing the right thing and is willing to take swift action to protect its reputation and values.
Entrata is moving forward.
