Harcourts NZ CEO appointed to head group’s Australasian operation

Bryan Thomson, Harcourts New Zealand CEO for the past eight years, has been appointed to the new role of Head of Real Estate Operations for Harcourts Australasia, Harcourts International Managing Director Mike Green announced today.

Bryan Thomson, new Head of Real Estate Operations for Harcourts Australasia

Mr Thomson will now be responsible for the operation, growth and success of Harcourts in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, Mr Green says, an appointment that will enable other members of the Harcourts International leadership team to increase their focus on achieving the goal of growing Harcourts’ global presence from nine countries now to 25 countries by 2014.  

“Working directly with the New Zealand and Australian state CEOs along with the CEO of our new commercial joint venture company NAI Harcourts, Bryan’s objective is to ensure Harcourts continues to increase its dominance in New Zealand, which is where Harcourts was established in 1888, and also grows both market coverage and market share across Australia and in Fiji,” Mr Green says.

“While Harcourts is already the largest real estate group in New Zealand and the fasting growing in Australia, it is critical that Harcourts’ Australasian operation has the focus, resource and leadership to achieve even greater success in these important markets and Bryan will ensure this happens.

“He is an outstanding real estate professional who is highly regarded and well respected throughout Harcourts and the entire real estate industry and I have no doubt he has the skills, commitment and passion required to lead Harcourts to be number one across Australasia.”

As Mr Green explains, the establishment of a Head of Real Estate Operations for Harcourts Australasia is a significant and important step for the Harcourts group. It follows a decision by Harcourts International Executive Director and Co-owner Paul Wright to move into the role of Harcourts International Board Chairman after 25 years of hands-on involvement in the growth of Harcourts’ franchise model domestically and internationally.

“With Paul’s move we have taken the opportunity to review the Harcourts International leadership team to ensure that we have a structure in place that supports our strategic plan to achieve continued growth in New Zealand and Australia as well growth in other existing and also new international markets.

“Harcourts’ franchise model has already been successfully established in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and China, including Hong Kong, however our plan is to have 2,500 Harcourts offices in 25 countries by 2014.

“Under the new structure, Harcourts International General Manager Gilbert Enoka, Harcourts International Chief Financial Officer Marc Taintey and myself will continue to focus on the operation of the entire group, working with Bryan on Australasia, Harcourts International’s Head of International Growth Aaron Hodson on our global expansion and our Heads of Departments to ensure that we continue to develop and deliver the very best real estate system and resources anywhere in this industry.”

ENDS

About Harcourts: Harcourts is an international real estate company selling, leasing and renting residential, rural and commercial real estate in addition to offering property management, financial and insurance services in some countries. Established in Wellington, New Zealand in 1888 the Harcourts group now has 600 offices in nine countries and is the exclusive South Pacific member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™, a global network of over 600 premier real estate firms with 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates in 35 countries. The strength of the Harcourts brand, its superior business and information systems, proven marketing tools and strategies and the group’s talented and committed team have all contributed to the ongoing success of Harcourts.

About Bryan Thomson: Mr Thomson is a long-term member of the Harcourts team who has gained considerable experience and achieved a high degree of success in the real estate industry. Starting out as a rural real estate sales consultant in the South Island his career has also included roles in franchise development, training and business consultancy. A former national award-winning auctioneer, within Harcourts Bryan has excelled as National Auction Manager, South Island Regional Manager and most recently as CEO of Harcourts New Zealand.  In his new role he will remain based in Auckland.