Kevin Sears President | Official website
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced a series of staffing changes as part of its ongoing strategy to manage costs, enhance operations, and better support its members and consumers. This restructuring comes in the wake of appointing a new chief financial officer, Matthew Cenedella, as part of forming a robust senior leadership team.
Jonathan Waclawski has been promoted to general counsel and senior vice president of Legal. New hires include Jarrod Grasso as senior vice president of industry relations, Sherry Chris as a special advisor of brokerages, and Sharon White as chief human resources officer. Additionally, Shannon McGahn has been elevated to executive vice president in addition to her role as chief advocacy officer. Mark Birschbach has also been promoted to executive vice president of strategic business, innovation and technology.
NAR CEO Nykia Wright mentioned that these changes focus on redefining the member experience, strengthening ties with brokerages and associations, and ensuring effective governance. The association is also redistributing budget resources towards its Advocacy, Research, Data, and Education sectors, affecting 61 positions overall, with a reduction of 41 jobs and elimination of 20 open roles across various departments.
Wright emphasized the importance of adapting to industry changes, stating, "As we continue managing our finances to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, we need to invest in the best people, adopt the right processes and apply the most advanced, cost-effective technology while remaining prudent financial stewards of the enterprise."
The NAR, the largest trade association in the United States, engages in all facets of residential and commercial real estate. The term Realtor identifies real estate professionals who are members of the NAR, subscribing to a strict Code of Ethics. Consumers can access free guides about home buying and selling processes at facts.realtor.
