Glenn Sanford steps down as AGNT CEO, passes baton to Leo Pareja
Sanford, who founded AGNT (formerly eXp World Holdings) in 2009, will continue to serve as board chair, while eXp Realty CEO Pareja will lead the enterprise.
Glenn Sanford, founder of the cloud-based real estate platform eXp World Holdings, which rebranded as AGNT in June, has stepped down from the chief executive role in order to focus on the company's long-term vision in his continued role as chairman of the AGNT Board.
Meanwhile, Leo Pareja, who has served as eXp Realty's CEO since 2024, will take on an expanded role as CEO of AGNT.
The announcement was made at eXpCon in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Inman first reported.
A new phase for eXp: The change in leadership ushers in a new phase of growth for AGNT and eXp Realty, a press release noted, as the company continues to expand across the globe. The brokerage has previously stated a goal of having 50,000 agents in 50 countries outside the U.S. by 2030.
Sanford called his involvement in eXp's growth "the privilege of my career" and a task he has been laser-focused on since founding the company in 2009. However, he added that he has "complete confidence" in Pareja's ability to lead the company forward.
"Leo has earned this moment," Sanford said in a statement. "He's been instrumental in moving our model into the AI-native era, and I've seen firsthand his commitment to our agents, our people, and our shareholders. He built a successful real estate platform before joining us in 2022, so he understands firsthand the work our agents put in every day as entrepreneurs."
Continued focus on technology: As a virtual brokerage, eXp Realty's identity has always been intertwined with technology, and Pareja said that the company will continue to focus on cutting-edge tools to help agents succeed in the AI era.
"My focus now is making sure every agent on our platform has the tools, the technology, and the ownership stake to compete and win in an AI-native market," Pareja said in a statement. "We're not just adapting to where the industry is headed, we're building the infrastructure for it. That's the work ahead, and I'm ready for it."
Before joining eXp Realty in 2022, Pareja founded data intelligence platform Remine in 2016, where he served as CEO and president until the company was acquired by MLS Technology Holdings in 2021. Pareja has also been active in the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) throughout his real estate career, serving as founding president of the association's Metro D.C. chapter and the national president at varying points.
Big moves during a pivotal time: Sanford's decision to step down from the CEO role comes just about five months after eXp Realty acquired fast-growing franchise brand NextHome for an undisclosed amount.
As industry consolidation has continued, the strategic move by eXp has given the brands' affiliated agents the choice to work within eXp Realty's cloud-based, revenue-share model or NextHome's more traditional franchise model. NextHome continues to operate as a distinct brand, with former co-CEOs James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson retaining leadership positions as president and president of strategy, respectively.
A new partner's take: Dwiggins praised Sanford's contributions to eXp and the industry as a whole as "beyond impressive," stating that he's "thrilled" the industry vet will stay on as chairman.
As for Pareja's promotion, Dwiggins called AGNT's new CEO "visionary" and a driving force at the company in recent years.
"As part of the NextHome team, I couldn't be more excited to work with Leo as we take AGNT, and NextHome's place within it, into the future," Dwiggins said in a text to Real Estate News.
Legal issues on the horizon: The leadership transition at AGNT also comes as eXp and two of its former agents prepare for trials in California over sex trafficking and assault claims associated with recruiting events in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Plaintiff Anya Roberts, an eXp agent who originally filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at an eXp recruiting event, and that company leaders turned a blind eye to former agents' bad behavior.
Barring a settlement or dismissal of claims, former eXp agents Michael Bjorkman and David Golden will face their trial on Oct. 19, while Sanford and other eXp corporate defendants will head to trial on Nov. 16.