Real estate hires and promotions: January 2018

Editor’s note: This story will be updated with additional hires. 

January 2018 is already witnessing an array of real estate industry hires and promotions. Who’s making moves? Which businesses are bringing in new blood or creating fresh positions?

Here’s a rundown of some recent HR news across the board.

Paul Boomsma to step in for LeadingRE CEO and president Pam O’Connor

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) announced that CEO and president Pam O’Connor will be stepping down from her position on March 31. Paul Boomsma, who currently holds dual roles as the organization’s COO and president of the Luxury Portfolio International division, will take her place, effective April 1.

“To say it has been an honor to work alongside the leaders of the best real estate companies in the world, as well as our incredibly talented staff, is an understatement,” O’Connor said in a statement. “I am both gratified by what we have achieved together and excited to see what the future holds for LeadingRE and its extraordinary companies and people.”

Boomsma, who said O’Connor has been a wonderful advocate for real estate brokers, told Inman that his goal in taking over the organization will be to continue to raise the bar in the real estate industry. “If you have strong brokers, they have great agents and great consumer interaction,” Boomsma said. “It’s about raising the bar so the consumer has the best representation in the market.”

As Boomsma takes the reins, Stephanie Anton, EVP of Luxury Portolio International, will become president of that program while Jessica Edgerton, formerly associate counsel at the National Association of Realtors, will join the organization as EVP of operations for LeadingRE.

Dave Gordon named Executive Vice President, CTO at Realogy

Realogy announced January 10 that Dave Gordon has been appointed as executive vice president, chief technology officer, effective January 22, 2018.

For the past three years, Gordon served as U.S. chief technology and operations officer at BMO Financial Group, where he led technology, operations and data initiatives in the U.S. Additionally, he was responsible for BMO’s U.S. innovation pipeline, which involved data analytics, digitization and artificial intelligence.

“I am excited to join Realogy and help lead the changes that will enable the Company to fully leverage its technology and data scale and increase the use of analytics in an integrated manner across business lines,” said Gordon, who has over 20 years of leadership experience in business operations, technology and innovation.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to work with Ryan Schneider and the Realogy leadership and technology teams as we focus on driving a technology transformation intended to improve business results,” he added.

Realogy CEO and President Ryan Schneider said, “Dave Gordon brings a strong business background with substantial expertise transforming and building leading-edge technology organizations, building digital products and recruiting great talent.

“He is an innovative leader who will be responsible for our technology transformation and working closely with Realogy’s other business leaders to help drive our aggressive change agenda.”

Vicki Hamp now senior vice president of Long & Foster’s Corporate Real Estate Services division

Independent real estate brand Long & Foster Real Estate has appointed Vicki L. Hamp as senior vice president of its Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) division. Hamp previously held the role of regional vice president of the same division and has worked in the real estate business for more than 25 years.

“I am grateful to the leaders before me who have championed the success of the CRES division and served as my role models,” said Hamp. “I’m eager to expand those successes and pave new roads with the help of our talented CRES team.”

In her new role, Hamp will oversee the CRES division, relocation performance, including business planning, staffing, budgeting, training and policy development. She is replacing Pandra Richie, who retired in December 2017.

“In today’s continually changing real estate market, it is critical that our business is supported by experienced and talented leaders like Vicki,” said Larry “Boomer” Foster and Gary Scott, presidents of Long & Foster Real Estate.

“We’re confident that with her tremendous experience and leadership in the mobility industry, combined with her tireless dedication, our relocation division will continue on the path toward future growth and success,” he added.

Hamp has earned many awards for her service to the relocation industry: Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation from the Employee Relocation Council (ERC) in 1995; Global Mobility Specialist (GMS) designation in 2007; Senior Global Mobility Specialist (SGMS) in 2013; the SGMS-T in 2014; Senior Certified Relocation Professional (SCRP) in 2017; Worldwide ERC Meritorious Service Award; Distinguished Service Award; Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s (LeadingRE) President’s Service Award.

She has been a member of the Relocation Directors Council (RDC) since 2004, and president since 2017, and will continue serving on the RDC Board of Directors as chairman in 2018.

Chicago Association of Realtors appoints Michelle Mills Clement as new CEO

Chicago native Michelle Mills Clement, currently president and CEO of the Commercial Brokers Association in Seattle and association executive for the Washington State Commercial Association of Realtors, has been named the new CEO of the Chicago Association of Realtors to succeed long-standing leader Ginger Downs.

Mills Clement will join the trade group in April after a handover from Downs, who has been at the helm of the 14,500 member-strong association for the past 12 years.

“From the very first interview, Michelle captivated us with her energy and her vision,” said Rebecca Thomson, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors’ board of directors and VP of agent development at @properties.

“She is thoughtful, strategic, and her attention to detail, leadership skills and connections with her association’s staff, leadership, and membership affirmed that she is the best and the brightest. We expect great things from her and have every confidence she will deliver,” Thomson added.

Mills Clement has a history in the Chicago association industry, including positions with the Association Forum of Chicagoland, association management company, SmithBucklin Corporation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Boy Scouts of America.

In the announcement, the executive said that she saw some good opportunities in developing the trade group’s advocacy role and to work with some of Chicago’s underserved communities.

Realogy CEO Ryan Schneider announces slew of leadership changes

“We begin 2018 with an industry-leading market position, great brands, and technology/data scale,” said Realogy chief executive officer and president Ryan Schneider. “The organizational changes we are making today are designed to accelerate our transformation and position our company for stronger business performance.”

“Our immediate focus is on the highest points of leverage within the company to drive better business results, develop talent and operate the company on a more integrated basis. We expect to drive our business forward and enhance shareholder value with an aggressive strategy serving and supporting agents, increasingly leveraging technology and data, and utilizing the power of our great brands.”

NRT LLC welcomes new president and CEO Ryan Gorman

Ryan Gorman will be responsible for the everyday operations of the company’s brokerages conducting business under the Coldwell Banker brand. Previously, Gorman served as chief strategy and operating officer of NRT for 16 months, and as senior vice president of strategic operations for four years before that.

Bruce Zipf named executive advisor to Realogy’s CEO

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of NRT Bruce Zipf is now an executive advisor to Realogy’s CEO.

CEO of Realogy Franchise Group John Peyton expands duties

The president and chief executive officer of Realogy Franchise Group (Realogy’s real estate franchise services arm) John Peyton will now be responsible for overseeing the Corcoran businesses and the company-owned Sotheby’s International Realty brokerages.

Former Cartus CEO Kevin Kelleher transitions to Realogy advisor role

Former President and chief executive officer of Cartus Kevin Kelleher has been named executive advisor to Realogy’s CEO.

“I am incredibly confident Ryan Gorman and John Peyton are well-positioned to assume expanded leadership roles,” Schneider said. “In addition, I am equally excited about the leadership our new Chief Technology Officer will bring to Realogy.”

“Bruce Zipf and Kevin Kelleher helped build NRT and Cartus into the companies they are today,” he added. “We thank them for their decades of leadership within our company. Likewise, we thank Stephen Fraser for strengthening our information technology resources and infrastructure over the past three years.”

“The intent of these organizational changes is to drive better results while accelerating the pace of change required to transform our company. We are moving forward quickly.”

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