Executive who led global real estate community since its founding passes the baton as network CEO.
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® announced today that Pam O’Connor will leave her position as president and CEO, effective March 31. O’Connor, who has been at the helm of the company since its founding in 1997, is stepping down with plans to remain active in the industry in a consultative capacity, including joining the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) Board of Directors for the coming year.
Paul Boomsma, who currently serves a dual role as LeadingRE chief operating officer and president of Luxury Portfolio International®, will assume responsibilities as president and CEO upon O’Connor’s retirement.
“Pam has been the force behind the remarkable growth of our network,” said LeadingRE Chairman of the Board Joe Horning, president of Shorewest Realtors. “With incredible passion, talent and dedication, Pam has spent decades building programs that support the success of independent brokerages. Her influence across the industry is undeniable, and we are immeasurably thankful for her years of leadership.”
O’Connor began her career in the promotion department of WSB Television in Atlanta and later co-owned Bryson-O’Connor Public Relations in Atlanta, but her professional focus has long been in the real estate industry. The first woman executive to head a major real estate network in 1985, her experience managing real estate and relocation organizations extends back 30 years to prior networks All Points Relocation Service and RELO®.
I’ve known Pam O’Connor for most of my 41-year career in residential real estate. She has been a competitor, a rival, a friend, and a great leader of our industry all that time. She was there for the founding of LeadingRE, guiding it to grow and prosper despite the hardship of the past 20 years. I will miss her as the head of LeadingRE, but wish her the best in all the endeavors that are still in front of her. She is just terrific.
During a time of consolidation for major independent real estate networks in the late 1990s, she was selected to head a new organization formed when leaders from fifty of America’s most respected real estate firms joined forces to launch a new non-franchise alternative for independent brokerages. This organization became the global powerhouse that today is Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.
Among the milestones achieved under Pam’s leadership, LeadingRE has:
- Become a truly global organization, with 565 member firms in 65 countries spanning six continents and corporate offices in London and Singapore.
- Formed a separate corporate relocation company, RELO Direct®, Inc., and an award-winning luxury marketing program, Luxury Portfolio International®.
- Launched a highly-successful online learning platform, ranked #3 in the Training Magazine Top 125 list of the most successful learning and development programs in the world.
- Grown its affiliate-to-affiliate referral sales volume to billions of dollars annually with an industry-leading conversion rate of nearly 50%.
“To say it has been an honor to work alongside the leaders of the best real estate companies in the world, as well as our incredibly talented staff, is an understatement,” O’Connor said. “I am both gratified by what we have achieved together and excited to see what the future holds for LeadingRE and its extraordinary companies and people.”
“Having had the privilege to work with Pam for the last 13 years, I have learned a great deal from her about the value of relationships and the importance of staying ahead of trends,” commented Paul Boomsma. “While her day-to-day involvement will certainly be missed, we are so thankful she will continue to play an important role as a member of our Board of Directors.”
Stephanie Anton, who has served as executive vice president of Luxury Portfolio International®, will assume responsibilities as president of that division. Joining LeadingRE as executive vice president of operations is Jessica Edgerton, formerly Associate Counsel with the National Association of Realtors®. Others on the executive team include Bob Portale, president and CEO of subsidiary RELO Direct®, Inc.; Chief Financial Officer Alan Cazzato; Executive Vice President/Member Services Elizabeth Nunan; and Executive Vice President/Global Operations Chris Dietz.
O’Connor’s personal and professional contributions will be celebrated during LeadingRE’s upcoming conference, taking place January 31-February 2 at Wynn Las Vegas.
Source: LeadingRE
