E&V seeks ‘new levels of growth’; Alliance installs 2026 leaders 

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.

E&V looks to expand with appointment of new EVP

Engel & Völkers Americas has a new growth leader, the global brand announced today. 

Chris Pflueger, a 25-year real estate sales and development professional, has been named executive vice president of expansion as the brokerage sets its sights on new markets. 

Pflueger joins E&V from iad Florida, a recent entrant to the U.S. residential brokerage market, where he served as managing director. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade at REMAX, supporting franchise development and spearheading the launch of Motto Mortgage, according to a news release. 

"His extensive experience leading sales organizations and expanding market share for established and emerging brands will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen and scale Engel & Völkers presence," said Stuart Siegel, president and CEO of E&V Americas, who added that Pflueger's "unique blend of strategic vision and operational discipline" will help take the brand "to new levels of growth." 

The international firm represents "the highest level of luxury real estate service and networked excellence under a singular, globally recognized brand," Pflueger said. "I look forward to partnering with our team and network leaders to build the future of the brand in the Americas, deepen our market presence and drive continued growth."

Alliance leadership team in place for 2026

The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance has installed five industry veterans to lead the organization into 2026 and beyond, the trade group announced. 

Tommie Wehrle, who has worked as an agent, broker/owner and coach, will serve as president of the 3,500-member organization. Her real estate career spans nearly 35 years and includes participation in local and state associations, NAR and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. She currently works as a learning consultant for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

"I've had the honor and privilege of having a career in the real estate industry," Wehrle said in a news release. "It's a thrill for me to be of service, impacting the lives of home buyers and sellers along with empowering/guiding agents and brokerage leadership towards success."

Members of the real estate industry, Wehrle added, have "the unique opportunity to be the ones who champion the removal of any barriers of homeownership entry for all marginalized groups. … With a growing membership pool, the opportunities to impact change grows each day."

Other members of the 2026 leadership team include:

• Richard Woods, broker/owner of Woods Real Estate Services in San Diego. Woods is first VP for 2026 and will be president in 2027.

• Austin Rowe, an agent with Onward Real Estate in Nashville. Rowe is second VP and will be president in 2028.

• Dan Darr, an agent at Equity Union in Palm Springs, will serve as secretary. 

• Rodney Mason, a senior loan officer at CrossCountry Mortgage in Atlanta, will serve as treasurer.

Elliman appoints new CTO

Douglas Elliman has announced that Chris Reyes will serve as its new chief technology officer. The news comes a month after the brokerage unveiled Elli, its AI assistant app for agents.

Reyes brings over 20 years in real estate and finance, serving most recently as CTO at Brown Harris Stevens and, before that, as CTO at GuardHill Financial Corp. Reyes also previously oversaw the technology divisions at Citi Habitats and the Corcoran Group, becoming known as "a proven technology leader with deep expertise in building scalable platforms that empower real estate professionals," Elliman President and CEO Michael S. Liebowitz said in a news release.

"His track record of implementing innovative solutions and his intimate understanding of the needs of agents and clients make him the ideal leader to drive our technology vision forward," Liebowitz added.

As the leader of Elliman's technology team, Reyes will oversee product launches and software development. He noted that his "passion for leveraging technology to enhance the real estate experience" aligns with the brokerage's "commitment to excellence and innovation."

"I am excited to drive technology transformation across departments for the benefit of our agents and clients," Reyes added.