Compass promotes a ‘trusted leader’; KW elevates 25-year veteran 

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.

Compass announces 'well-earned promotion'

Compass International Holdings (CIH) has appointed longtime executive Rory Golod to serve as president of growth, a newly created role in which he will focus on helping agents expand their businesses through the company's technology platform.

Golod has been with the company for nearly a decade, most recently as president of growth and communications for Compass prior to the formation of CIH. He previously co-led its brokerage operations, drove national expansion and served as chief of staff to Chairman and CEO Robert Reffkin during Compass' key growth period. 

In his expanded role, Golod will oversee platform adoption, agent recruitment, M&A and corporate communications, with a mandate to unify agents across CIH brands and improve productivity through AI-driven tools and coaching, according to a news release.

"Over the past decade, Rory has been a trusted leader with a strong track record of supporting agents and helping them realize their entrepreneurial potential," Reffkin wrote on Instagram. Reffkin congratulated Golod for the "well-earned promotion" in the post and added that he is confident Golod's "agent-first mindset will continue to drive meaningful impact as we bring our network of real estate professionals together on one unified platform."

Golod's appointment follows several recent leadership changes CIH has made since completing its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate. Earlier this month, the company promoted Shay Artzi to serve as chief technology officer and appointed former Anywhere exec Sue Yannaccone to serve as chief operating officer. In another major promotion last month, the company named Neda Navab to serve as president of the holding company.

Longtime KW exec joins the C-suite

Keller Williams Realty has announced that Jason Abrams, a real estate professional who has been aligned with the KW brand for 25 years, is stepping into a new role.

Abrams most recently worked as the head of industry and learning at KW International and has hosted the brand's Millionaire Real Estate Agent podcast.

He will now serve as KW's chief industry and strategy officer, an expanded role in which he will continue prioritizing global learning strategies and initiatives aimed at strengthening the company's focus on supporting real estate entrepreneurs.

Abrams "has dedicated his career to helping agents and broker owners build businesses worth owning and lives worth living" and "understands that in order to live your best life, you must give your best effort to the parts that matter most," KW President and CEO Chris Czarnecki said in a news release.

"This new role expands his ability to drive that impact at scale," Czarnecki added.

The promotion is the latest of several leadership changes at Keller Williams since Czarnecki became CEO a year ago. Last May, the company hired a new CFO and formalized the appointment of its COO; in August, KW named a new CMO; and in October, the firm promoted one of its executives to the role of general counsel.  

Luxury auction company expands executive team

A month after DeCaro Auctions introduced Mario Vargas as its new CEO, the luxury real estate auction company has announced several more executive appointments as it eyes international growth opportunities.

"Each member of this team brings deep experience in their respective disciplines, allowing us to elevate the way extraordinary properties are positioned, sold, and experienced globally," Vargas said in a news release.

The six appointments announced this month are:

• Scott Haws, chief operating officer

• Matthew Rollins, chief marketing officer

• Zachary Wright, head of global alliances and partnerships

• Chloe Lapierre, property experience director

• Alex Alavekios, senior private client advisor

• Mitch Abundis, private client advisor and Mexico director

Wright, who brings over three decades of experience in the real estate and auction spaces, said that he is joining the leadership team at a "pivotal moment."

"With a world class team in place, we can expand global partnerships, bring more luxury properties to market, and deliver seamless, high touch experiences for clients across continents," Wright said.

Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.