Move Inc. said Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Lewis R. Belote III will leave the company later this year, once the operator of real estate Web sites appoints a successor.

Belote has been with the Westlake Village company since 2002. Move, whose operations include the official web site of the National Association of Realtors, has engaged global executive search firm Spencer Stuart to lead the search for his replacement

“Lew has been a stable presence for the company during some challenging times and we appreciate the professionalism, expertise and dedication he brought to the company,” Chief Executive Steve Berkowitz said in a statement.

Prior to the announcement, Move shares closed up 7 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $1.62 on the Nasdaq.