Compass, Fathom announce new presidents 

Two public brokerage companies — one an industry giant, and the other a growing platform — have appointed women leaders to drive their operations forward.

A rising star at the country's largest brokerage

Compass continues to shape its leadership team under its new banner — Compass International Holdings — announcing today that Neda Navab will serve as president. The promotion comes just a week after former Anywhere Real Estate CEO Ryan Schneider departed the company in the wake of the Compass-Anywhere mega-merger.

Navab, who joined Compass in 2018 as chief of staff to CEO Robert Reffkin, has been brokerage president since 2022. During that time, she oversaw operations and integrations tied to major acquisitions, including Anywhere and @properties Christie's International Real Estate.  In her expanded role as president of Compass, she will lead brokerage strategy, operations and agent experience, according to a news release.

As the head of the residential brokerage business within Compass International Holdings, Navab's "role will remain solely focused on helping Compass agents thrive," Reffkin said. 

Unlike Compass' outspoken CEO, Navab has tended to stay out of the spotlight — but during her tenure with the company, she has been increasingly recognized for her influence within the industry. She recently claimed the No. 60 spot on the 2026 Swanepoel Power 200 ranking of the 200 most powerful leaders in residential real estate, up from No. 70 in 2025.

"Compass real estate professionals are among the most talented and dedicated agents in the industry, and it has been the privilege of my career to build alongside them," Navab said. "I have spent years listening to what they want and need from their brokerage, and my commitment to delivering on that has never been stronger."

A new leader at a growing player

Fathom Realty — another publicly traded residential brokerage company — has also appointed a new president. Lori Muller has taken the helm at the fast-growing firm, which ranked 18th among all U.S. brokerages by sales volume in 2024, effective Feb. 9.

Muller succeeds Samantha Giuggio, who is stepping down as president of Fathom Realty and chief operating officer of Fathom Holdings. The leadership transition "reflects the strength and maturity of our company" as it continues to scale its national brokerage platform, according to Fathom Holdings CEO Marco Fregenal.

Giuggio, who said her departure was "a personal decision," was promoted to the dual role just 15 months ago. Since joining Fathom in 2010, Giuggio "has been instrumental in shaping the culture, growth, and operational excellence that define our company today," Fregenal said.

Muller, meanwhile, is no stranger to brokerage leadership. She was most recently president of EXIT Realty's U.S. brokerage operations, the country's 18th-largest real estate enterprise by sales volume in 2024 with roughly $21.5 billion in closed transactions. Fregenal described her as a "proven, people-first leader with deep operational expertise and a strong track record of empowering agents and brokerage leaders," while Giuggio noted that Muller has "the qualities needed to lead at the highest level."

In addition to her brokerage leadership, Muller is a coach, author and advocate for women in real estate. 

"Women have always been the backbone of this business," Muller recently posted on LinkedIn. "They just were not given the titles or the spotlight that matched their contributions."

While "we have more women in titled leadership roles than ever before," Muller added, "visibility is not the same thing as impact. True leadership is not about holding a position. It is about mentoring other women, creating an inclusive culture, and pushing for change even when it is uncomfortable."

Note: Real Estate News is an editorially independent division of T3 Sixty.