Top US Sotheby’s affiliate 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. 

$6B Sotheby's affiliate appoints new leader

William Pitt - Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty, a firm with more than 1,100 agents across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, announced today that Carolyn Fugere has been promoted to president and CEO.

Fugere joined the affiliate more than 15 years ago, serving as associate broker and director of strategic growth before being appointed co-president and chief sales officer nearly five years ago. In that role, she oversaw the brokerage company's agent roster and its 31 offices, according to a news release. 

The brokerage was established in 1949 as The William Pitt Company, and in the decades since it has been led by just three CEOs. Fugere marks the fourth individual — and the first woman — to hold the role as the company strives to maintain its position as the top independently owned Sotheby's International Realty affiliate by sales volume.

"Rather than a change in direction, this appointment is an exciting evolution in the leadership of our firm, and a natural progression of Carolyn's work and commitment to the organization," the firm's executive chairman and owner, Paul Breunich, said of the promotion.

Fugere described her career in real estate as "a lifelong passion centered entirely on the success of our agents," adding: "I am honored to step into this role and lead an organization I care so deeply about. Backed by an extraordinary team, my focus remains on supporting our advisors, strengthening the relationships that drive our business, and continuing to build on what makes our organization so special."

Opendoor adds hedge fund founder to board

Opendoor has added Mike Alfred to its board of directors, the iBuyer announced last week. 

Alfred's appointment, which includes a role on the board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, came just a week after the company revealed that Lucas Matheson had stepped down as president after just 10 months in the role. 

Alfred is the founder and managing partner of the hedge fund and private investment partnership Alpine Fox LP, and he serves on the boards of IREN Limited, an AI data center developer and Bitcoin miner, and Bakkt Holdings, a digital payments company. He is also an advisor to the CEO of Amenify, a multifamily proptech, and his previous ventures include co-founding and leading two fintech companies, according to a news release.

Opendoor CEO Kaz Nejatian described Alfred as "a builder who has founded and scaled technology companies, and he's spent years as an investor thinking about how companies create long-term value. His perspective as an operator, investor and public company director will be incredibly valuable as we continue to make buying and selling a home simple and certain."

Alfred said he looked forward to working with Nejatian and the board "to help build on the company's momentum."

2-decade brokerage leader joins MAVERIX

Anna Visioli, a real estate veteran who has overseen brokerage strategy, operations and marketing, is the latest addition to MAVERIX's advisory staff. The consultancy announced in late September that former Lone Wolf GM Kyle Hunter had joined its team.

Visioli joins the firm from Compass International Holdings, where she had served as SVP of strategy and implementation, according to her LinkedIn profile. She previously spent nearly two decades with Coldwell Banker, holding multiple executive positions during her tenure with the brand.

In making the move, Visioli said on LinkedIn that she was "excited to take what I learned building things, platforms and initiatives across some of the industry's best-known brands, and put it to work for individual companies."

MAVERIX Founder and CEO Jeff Kennedy noted on LinkedIn that while he hadn't been looking for another advisor, "when someone came along that literally checked every single box, you make the move." 

Visioli "understands how companies make decisions, how to navigate complex situations, and most importantly, how to turn ideas/decisions into real results," Kennedy wrote.