People on the Move: C.A.R. names a new CEO 

Editor's note: As an industry with millions of agents and over 100,000 brokerage companies, new leaders rise to the top every day. Here we highlight executives and other notable leaders who've recently taken on, or stepped away from, roles that influence the residential real estate landscape. 

The country's second-largest state real estate association has a new leader. The California Association of Realtors, which serves more than 200,000 members, has announced the appointment of Phil Hawkins as CEO.

Hawkins fills the role occupied since April by interim CEO Debra Ferrier. Ferrier will remain CEO of C.A.R. subsidiary Real Estate Business Services.

Hawkins comes to C.A.R. from the Pacific West Association of Realtors, a large local association in the state, where he has served as CEO for the past nine years. His association leadership career began in 1997 at the South Bay Association of Realtors, and he then joined PWR in 1998 as VP of government affairs. During his tenure with the organization, Hawkins oversaw professional standards, member education, advocacy, financial and charitable operations and more. 

Working at C.A.R. will be familiar territory for Hawkins, who has been a member of several of the association's committees. He also currently serves on NAR's Association Executive Committee.

He comes to C.A.R. during a bumpy summer for the association, however. After rolling out new forms in preparation for the industry rule changes going into effect this month, C.A.R. was besieged with criticism from a consumer watchdog group and faced a "formal inquiry" from the Department of Justice. 

In July, the association unveiled new forms, though it declined to say whether the updates were in response to the scrutiny. The changes appear to have appeased the association's critics. 

In the hiring announcement, C.A.R. President Melanie Barker highlighted Hawkins' "deep knowledge about the real estate industry and the political landscape in California. His insights into the many issues facing us today make him uniquely positioned to be our next CEO." 

Barker acknowledged that "Phil joins the organization during a time of significant industry change and, as such, will be instrumental in developing and delivering on a vision for C.A.R. and for our profession."

Hawkins echoed Barker's statement, noting that it "is an extremely challenging period for our industry," but said he is "confident that, together, we will successfully navigate the current environment and emerge even stronger, ready to seize opportunities that lie ahead for our members, the industry, and our organization."