Compass makes C-suite appointment; Zillow promotes 3 leaders
Anywhere’s top accounting exec is now CAO at Compass. Plus, Zillow elevates rentals, comms leaders; BPP installs board members; DeCaro Auctions 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.
Same role, new boss for Anywhere exec
Compass has appointed longtime Anywhere Real Estate executive Timothy Gustavson to serve as its chief accounting officer and principal accounting officer.
Gustavson will assume the roles starting March 2, according to an 8-K form that Compass filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 23.
Gustavson began his career at KPMG Audit, where he worked in public accounting for about 16 years. He moved to Anywhere — then Realogy — in 2006 and became the company's assistant corporate controller and vice president of finance in 2008.
A 2015 promotion elevated Gustavson to the role of chief accounting officer, controller and senior vice president. He held those titles until Anywhere's acquisition by Compass was finalized last month.
Gustavson's appointment comes on the heels of Compass' announcement that Neda Navab has been named the brokerage's new president. Navab was promoted to the role just a week after Ryan Schneider, who was Anywhere's CEO for eight years prior to the mega-merger, left the company.
Zillow announces trio of promotions
Zillow has promoted three long-serving employees — including one who now sits in the company's C-suite. The home search giant described the promotions as part of a larger strategy to bolster its Product, Rentals and Corporate Affairs teams.
Christopher Roberts is now Zillow's chief product officer. Roberts has been with the company for over 18 years, most recently serving as the general manager of Zillow Rentals. In his new role, Roberts will focus on elevating Zillow's tech offerings as artificial intelligence continues spreading through real estate.
"Christopher's Product leadership has been foundational to how we build and scale our marketplace," Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman said in a news release.
Marissa Brooks is now Zillow's SVP of corporate affairs. Brooks has held several roles since she started working at Zillow nearly nine years ago, with VP of communications serving as her most recent title. In her expanded role, Brooks will oversee the company's communications, industry events and policy advocacy strategies, with a focus on reiterating Zillow's "commitment to making moving easier, more transparent and tech-enabled," according to a company announcement.
"Marissa's leadership in Communications and Government Relations ensures we engage responsibly and credibly on the issues that shape housing," Wacksman said.
Jon Lim is now SVP of product management at Zillow Rentals. Lim has been at Zillow since late 2018 and most recently served as the company's VP of product management. In his new role, Lim will focus on weaving AI into the Zillow Rentals sphere with a goal of refining the user experience.
"Jon has played a key role in shaping both our For Sale and Rentals experiences, driving product innovation and strategic growth across our platform," Wacksman said.
Working together, the three "help position Zillow for long-term success," he added.
BPP names 2026 board
The Broker Public Portal (BPP) this week unveiled the list of real estate professionals who will serve on its 2026 board of managers.
The collection features brokerage and MLS leaders who are committed to data integrity, collaboration and working to help consumers, according to a news release.
The 2026 board "is made up of leaders who understand that the future of home search belongs to the industry itself," BPP CEO Dan Troup said.
"When brokers and MLSs work together around transparency and the Fair Display Guidelines, we create something stronger than any third-party portal. We create trust," he added, noting that the new board members will be "focused on accelerating that momentum."
Pat Shea of Windermere Signature Properties will chair the board. Four others will be joining him on the leadership team:
Shelley Specchio, MIBOR Realtor Association — Vice Chair
M.E. Cook, Keller Williams Realty — Secretary
Michael Barbaro, REDWITH — Treasurer
Melissa King, OneKey MLS — At Large
Additional board members include: AnneMarie DeCatsye of Canopy MLS; Ashley Dane of RE/MAX of Michigan; Charlie Hunt of Hunt Real Estate; Chris Raveis of William Raveis Real Estate; Christina Pappas of The Keyes Company; Dana Strandmo of HomeServices of America; Dennis Cestra Jr. of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services; Fran Broude of Compass; Merri Jo Cowen of Stellar MLS; and RJ Long of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.
Luxury auction company welcomes new leader
DeCaro Auctions has named Mario Vargas to serve as its new CEO. The appointment comes as the luxury real estate auction company is eyeing international growth opportunities and working to expand its advisory platform for private clients.
Vargas joins DeCaro after spending the past 15 years at Concierge Auctions, where he started as a project sales manager. He climbed the ranks while at Concierge, becoming its VP of client services before ultimately serving as SVP of corporate development.
In his new role, Vargas will prioritize expansion for the company and growth for its private client advisory services, according to a news release.
"My focus is on strengthening our relationships with sellers and top agents while scaling the platform thoughtfully and globally," Vargas said, noting that DeCaro "has a legacy built on integrity and results."
Vargas "understands the responsibility of carrying forward a forty year plus legacy while positioning DeCaro for its next era of leadership," Founder Daniel DeCaro added. "I am proud to welcome Mario as our new CEO."