SERHANT appoints CTO; Florida Realtors, LIBOR install presidents 

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.

SERHANT hires Amazon, Microsoft vet as CTO

New York-based SERHANT has appointed Greg Chan as chief technology officer to lead its technology strategy and expand its AI-driven platform for agents, the company said in a press release.

Chan, a tech leader with 25 years of experience, will be responsible for bringing the firm's technology vision to life across AI, product development and agent-facing services, SERHANT indicated. Chan will also help the company scale its proprietary AI workflow automation platform — S.MPLE — which integrates CRM, marketing, deal management, content creation and performance analytics. 

A former Microsoft software engineer and a technology leader at Amazon for nearly 10 years, Chan most recently served as CTO at fintech firm Akoya.

"Greg Chan joins us at a time when SERHANT. Technologies is accelerating our mission to build the most advanced AI-powered platform in real estate," said Ryan Serhant, the brokerage's founder and CEO. 

Chan, he added, will "lead the next phase" of development, which includes "scaling our infrastructure, productizing our technology, and expanding the enterprise value of everything we've built."

Florida Realtors' new president to 'stay focused' on member interests

Florida Realtors has announced that Chuck Bonfiglio will serve as its 2026 president.

Bonfiglio, who was officially installed in his new role during an event on Jan. 8, is the broker/owner of AAA Realty Group, an independent brokerage in South Florida. He has been involved with Realtor organizations at the local, state and national levels for over a decade and, in 2013, served as president of Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors.

In his new role as 2026 president of the state association, Bonfiglio said he intends to pay close attention to taxes, insurance and affordability. "As the market adjusts, we're optimistic that improved conditions will help create more opportunity for Floridians and support the strong demand from families and businesses moving to our state," he said in a news release.

Another key focus for Bonfiglio will be advocacy. With affordability a continuing concern throughout the industry, "we want to make sure our members have clear, reliable information to help the people they serve navigate those challenges," he said.

"Stepping into this role, I'm encouraged by the momentum we're seeing in real estate overall and especially here in Florida," he said. "We take the responsibility of representing our members seriously and stay focused on what's in their best interest." 

LIBOR installs 85th president

The Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) also installed its 2026 president on Jan. 8.

Shaan Khan, broker/owner of RK Realty Group in Melville, said it is "an honor" to serve as the organization's 85th president.

The year ahead "presents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our profession, elevate ethical and professional standards, and clearly demonstrate the value Realtors bring to consumers and the communities we serve," Khan said in a news release.

"I look forward to working alongside our dedicated leadership team, members, affiliates and partners as we guide LIBOR into its next chapter," he added.

Khan has helped guide strategy at LIBOR since joining the organization in 2020. LIBOR CEO Doreen Spagnuolo praised the "collaborative, governance-driven leadership style" that Khan has demonstrated over the past few years, an approach that she said "will be invaluable as we advance innovative programs and solutions that support our professionals, enhance the consumer experience, and move our industry forward."

Joining Khan on LIBOR's executive committee this year will be: President-Elect Yvette Clark Watkins, Secretary/Treasurer Renée Hughes and Immediate Past President Mark Donnelly.

MBA names new CFO

Alexandra Brinton has joined the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), where she will serve as vice president and chief financial officer.

Brinton, a CPA with over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management, most recently worked as the controller for the American Association of Airport Executives. She previously held similar positions at NCTA — The Internet & Television Association, The Conservation Fund and InterAction, and was also once the associate director of finance at Eurasia Group.

At MBA, Brinton will oversee the association's managerial accounting and financial operations, according to a news release. She has a "proven track record of strengthening associations and organizations through thoughtful, disciplined financial leadership," said Peter J. Grace, MBA's chief administrative officer and SVP of industry education and technology.

Brinton "brings a strategic mindset, strong operational rigor, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach that will be a real asset to our association as we further strengthen our financial operations in today's market environment," Grace added.

Realty.com adds chief growth officer

Realty.com, a home search portal headquartered in Houston, has appointed Vija Williams to be its chief growth officer.

Williams shared the announcement, which was first reported by Inman, in a Jan. 12 post on Instagram.

"I've spent my career around teams and listing agents that win because they control two things: leads and conversion," Williams wrote in her post. "Realty.com pulled me in because we're at an inflection point, expanding tech, data infrastructure, and partnerships. I'm here to help translate that into more listing wins for the right real estate teams and agents."

In mid-2025, Williams joined eXp Realty to oversee its UPGRADE platform, an initiative that the brokerage said at the time was "designed to elevate agents, team leaders, and brokerage owners in all areas of life." Williams, who co-owns a luxury firm in Seattle, Washington, also previously served as the head of industry at PLACE.

At Realty.com, "I'm looking forward to connecting with real estate teams, agents and brokerages who want to grow their listing pipeline in 2026," she wrote.