A CEO transition at HSF Affiliates; Compass exec promoted
Jason Waugh will take the helm at HSF Affiliates in 2027. Plus, Compass names president of integrated services; Ben Schwartz joins Rocket as general counsel.
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.
Jason Waugh to helm HSF Affiliates following leadership transition
Jason Waugh will succeed Vince Leisey as CEO of HSF Affiliates, the franchisor of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, HomeServices of America announced today. The appointment is part of a planned leadership transition expected to begin in 2027.
Waugh will be rejoining HomeServices, having previously served as president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate. He most recently was president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates, where he oversaw franchise growth and brand strategy for the global network.
As part of the transition plan, Waugh will initially work on select enterprise initiatives — including HomeServices' insurance business — while Leisey continues to lead the franchise network. After handing the reins over to Waugh, Leisey will remain involved as chair of the network and will continue as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate.
"Jason brings a rare combination of brokerage leadership, franchise expertise and enterprise perspective that will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and grow our network," HomeServices President and CEO Chris Kelly said in a news release.
"The strength of this network is built on its people, its brand and its shared commitment to excellence," Waugh added. "I look forward to building on that foundation and supporting our franchisees as we continue to grow together when the transition occurs."
Compass names president of integrated services
Compass International Holdings has appointed Cory Perkins president of integrated services, a role focused on streamlining the transaction experience and expanding tools and services for real estate professionals.
Perkins previously built and led Compass' Integrated Services division, overseeing growth in revenue, profitability, and title and escrow attachment. During his more than eight years at the company, he also helped lead expansion into more than 20 new markets and supported the opening of over 100 offices across the country, according to a news release.
Perkins "has proven he knows how to build and scale integrated services that deliver real value to agents and their clients," Compass International Holdings Chairman and CEO Robert Reffkin said. "He's the right leader to lead our combined integrated services team and take them to the next level."
"It's a privilege to step into this role and work alongside the talented teams and storied brands that Compass and Anywhere have brought together into a single organization," Perkins said. "With the best people and technology powering our integrated services businesses, we have the real opportunity to set the bar for service excellence in our industry."
Perkins' appointment follows the planned retirement of Don Casey, who led Integrated Services at Anywhere before the company's acquisition by Compass. Casey will remain involved with the firm as an executive advisor.
Rocket CEO taps former colleague to fill general counsel role
Ben Schwartz has been named general counsel at Rocket Companies, CEO Varun Krishna announced this week.
Schwartz joins Rocket with 25 years of experience working in tech, financial services and consumer businesses. He spent the past 14 years at Intuit, where he was most recently on the Global Business Solutions Group's senior leadership team as senior vice president and deputy general counsel.
In a post on LinkedIn, Krishna noted that he has known Schwartz for over 10 years, some of which were spent working together at Intuit.
Schwartz "earned trust across every team he touched. He made complex things feel simple. He made people around him sharper," Krishna wrote.
"Ben doesn't treat legal as the team that says no. He treats it as the reason you can say yes," the post added. "That's what makes him the right leader for this moment of Rocket's evolution."
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.