Fast growing Australian software company BigCommerce has ramped up its plans for an initial public offering by appointing HomeAway chief operating officer and former PayPal Europe boss Brent Bellm as its chief executive officer, with co-founder Eddie Machaalani becoming executive chairman of the board.

Mr Bellm is well-respected in US technology circles, having guided home rental service HomeAway through an IPO on the NASDAQ in 2011, which saw the company valued at $US3 billion. His appointment will represent a big change in the operations of the company, which has been run by its founders Mr Machaalani and Mitchell Harper, since it was formed in 2009.