FirstTeam, HomeServices strengthen leadership teams 

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.

FirstTeam elevates Anna Bennett to C-suite

FirstTeam has appointed Anna Bennett as chief growth officer, promoting a longtime business-development leader as the independent Southern California brokerage continues its national expansion.

Bennett's most recent stint at FirstTeam began in 2023 when she joined the firm as vice president of business development. She previously worked with the brokerage prior to its break from Christie's International Real Estate, serving as director of business development and later director of recruiting, according to her LinkedIn profile. Her background also includes leadership roles at ZipRealty and Side. 

The announcement comes shortly after FirstTeam elevated Lauren Henss to chief marketing and strategy officer, making Bennett the second C-level promotion at the brokerage in recent months. The move aligns with FirstTeam's growth strategy, which includes its decision to expand nationally in 2025 and its more recent partnership with Brown Harris Stevens.

For the past three years, Bennett has worked on agent acquisition, organizational growth, M&As and partnership opportunities at FirstHome, and in 2024 she was featured as a member of FirstTeam's all-female senior leadership team as part of the company's "Powerful Women: Redefining Real Estate" initiative.

FirstTeam said Bennett has recruited talent associated with more than $25 billion in market share gains and will continue leading its recruiting teams as chief growth officer.

1000WATT founders take executive roles at HomeServices

In conjunction with its announced acquisition of real estate marketing firm 1000WATT on Oct. 1, HomeServices of America has appointed the agency's founders, Brian Boero and Marc Davison, to its C-suite. After nearly 20 years leading 1000WATT, Boero is now chief marketing and strategy officer at HomeServices of America, and Davison has been named chief creative officer. 

The co-founders discussed the move in a statement on their website, explaining that they were ready "to focus our energies on something big, challenging, and important," adding: "That's not to say we aren't wobbly with emotion right now. We are. When you build and care for a small company for years and years, the line between personal and professional vanishes. Everything that hits and misses is yours to own. Every dollar spent comes from your pocket. This thing became part of us, more than we would probably like to admit."

Prior to establishing 1000WATT, Boero led proptech company VREO as CEO and previously served as president of Inman for seven years. Davison also did stints at VREO and Inman, and founded and led a media company from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s.

In HomeServices' acquisition announcement, President and CEO Chris Kelly said the addition of Boero and Davison and their team "gives us an extraordinary combination of industry knowledge, research, strategy and creative talent to help us further execute our vision of a Complete Real Estate Experience."

Flyhomes hires ex-Zillow VP to lead business development

Flyhomes has named Tyler Moynihan vice president of business development, the company announced today, adding a veteran partnerships executive as the proptech expands distribution of its Buy Before You Sell platform.

Moynihan joins Flyhomes after a stint at Opendoor and 12 years at Zillow, where he was vice president of partnerships and corporate development. During his time with the home search giant, Moynihan helped lead deals including the $500 million purchase of ShowingTime and the strategic partnership between Zillow and Opendoor, according to a news release. At Flyhomes, he will focus on establishing distribution partnerships with mortgage lenders, homebuilders, brokerages and technology platforms.

The hire comes as Flyhomes focuses more narrowly on mortgage lending following Real's July 2025 acquisition of the proptech's consumer home-search technology and related assets. The company said it is continuing to build the team supporting its Buy Before You Sell platform as it forges new industry relationships.

Flyhomes also announced today that Nihit Nirmal has joined the company as vice president of product, and Wendy Tieu returns to Flyhomes as director of partner sales enablement. Nirmal, who previously founded and grew an enterprise AI company, will focus on applying AI to home lending, while Tieu will support the company's loan officer network and partner sales efforts.

Mortgage advisory firm names new managing director

STRATMOR Group has hired real estate and mortgage industry veteran Coby Hakalir as managing director, adding an executive with experience across lending channels and advisory work to the mortgage consultancy.

Hakalir most recently served as managing director at consultancy T3 Sixty and has advised mortgage lenders, investors, real estate companies and affiliate businesses, according to a news release. He also hosts two industry podcasts and has written for multiple industry media outlets. (Note: Real Estate News is an editorially independent division of T3 Sixty.) 

At STRATMORE, which provides consulting in the areas of growth, profitability, sales, marketing, technology, operations and M&As, Hakalir will focus on the evolving intersection of mortgage and real estate, including helping lenders and real estate professionals evaluate business strategies and technology solutions, according to Senior Partner Garth Graham.

"I've admired STRATMOR for a very long time," Hakalir said. "I have tremendous respect for what STRATMOR brings to the industry, for the leaders who built it, and for the talented people delivering results for clients every day."

Homes for Heroes appoints Amit Kulkarni as CEO

Homes for Heroes, a savings program for first responders, military and law enforcement members, healthcare workers and teachers, has named Amit Kulkarni CEO. With Kulkarni's hiring, Founder Ruth Johnson will become executive chair as the organization prepares for its next phase of growth, according to a news release.

Kulkarni, a 20-year industry veteran, has served as interim CEO since April after joining the Homes for Heroes Advisory Board in November 2025. He previously was chief marketing officer at Bright MLS and spent a decade at Realtor.com, where he led brand strategy; a year ago, he co-founded real estate consultancy Alloy Advisors.

"Amit has the operational experience and real estate expertise to lead Homes for Heroes, but just as important, he shares my passion for helping the people who serve and strengthen our communities," Johnson said in the announcement.

Johnson launched Homes for Heroes in 2002 and will continue supporting the organization's mission, strategic direction and growth as executive chair, the organization said. Homes for Heroes has a national network of more than 2,900 real estate and mortgage professionals and says its programs have helped save buyers, sellers and homeowners more than $166 million.

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.