Mark Willis steps back into CEO role at Keller Williams

Mark Willis, who served as CEO of Keller Williams from 2005 to 2014, has stepped back into the role effective immediately. Marc King will continue to serve as President of Keller Williams.

“I am grateful to be back,” Willis told HousingWire in an interview.

“With a deep knowledge of our company and our culture, Mark is well-suited to lead us through our next growth phase,” said Gary Keller, co-founder and executive chairman of KW in a statement. 

“With so much uncertainty surrounding the real estate industry today, it’s never been more important to have a leader who thoroughly knows us and understands business at the highest level,” said Keller. “That’s Mark Willis.”

Willis joined Keller Williams from Coldwell Banker in 1991, serving in multiple roles during his time with the brokerage. In 2002, he joined the firm’s executive team, serving as president, before a nine-year stint as CEO from 2005 to 2014. He left the company in 2016.

During that time, “Keller Williams grew from approximately 25,000 agents to 115,000 agents,” said Steve Murray, founder of RTC Consulting and a senior advisor for HousingWire.

Willis spent seven years away from the firm before being named a strategic consultant with the company in July 2023.

He takes over at a critical point in the real estate industry.

Earlier this month, a Kansas City jury found the National Association of Realtors (NAR), HomeServices of America and Keller Williams guilty of colluding to inflate or maintain high commission rates through NAR’s Clear Cooperation rule in the Sitzer/Burnett buyer broker commission lawsuit.

The defendants have been ordered to pay damages of $1.78 billion. Treble damages could result in NAR and the defendant brokerages paying roughly $5.36 billion. All three parties plan to appeal.

“This could be a golden moment in the real estate industry,” Willis told HousingWire. “Life isn’t about what happens to you; it’s all about how you respond. This has been a slow-burn crisis and will take a concerted effort by the entire industry.”

As CEO, Keller Williams will leverage Willis’ vast knowledge and expertise to continue to help its agents and market center owners grow their businesses.

“I’m excited to remain partnered with our KW agents, leaders, owners, and Gary Keller, a once-in-a-generation business leader,” Willis said in a statement. “Only together can we drive our vision to be the real estate company of choice for agents and customers.”

“Mark Willis has been one of the more inspirational leaders in our industry over the last 25 years,” Murray said. “His re-entry to Keller Williams will strengthen their ability to compete in the future.”

Since 1991, Willis has served in various leadership roles within the company, including regional director, operating principal, team leader, and as a market center and region investor.

“We face headwinds and change, and that’s nothing new,” Willis said. “As an innovative force since 1983, we remain optimistically forward-thinking and focused on serving our agents and brokerage partners as they provide powerful customer and business experiences,”

In early 2022, Willis was tapped by eXp Realty to take an executive-level position at the brokerage.

In February 2022, a judge in Austin, Texas, issued a restraining order against Willis, preventing him from joining eXp Realty or doing business with any real estate brokerage in the United States or Canada viewed as a direct competitor to Keller Williams

Related

In recent news, Mark Willis, former CEO of Keller Williams, has made a return to the company, taking up the CEO position once again. Willis previously served as CEO from 2005 to 2014 before leaving in 2016. His deep knowledge of the company and its culture makes him well-suited to lead Keller Williams through its next growth phase.

During his previous tenure as CEO, Keller Williams experienced significant growth, expanding from approximately 25,000 agents to 115,000 agents. This growth can be attributed to Willis’s leadership and strategic vision. Now, with Willis back at the helm, Keller Williams aims to continue supporting its agents and market center owners in growing their businesses.

Willis’s return comes at a critical time for the real estate industry. A recent jury verdict found the National Association of Realtors (NAR), HomeServices of America, and Keller Williams guilty of colluding to inflate or maintain high commission rates. The defendants have been ordered to pay damages of $1.78 billion, with treble damages potentially resulting in a payment of roughly $5.36 billion. Willis recognizes this as a defining moment for the industry and believes it will require a concerted effort from the entire real estate community to navigate and respond to this crisis.

With his extensive knowledge and expertise, Willis will work alongside Keller Williams agents, leaders, owners, and Gary Keller, the company’s co-founder and executive chairman, to drive their vision of becoming the real estate company of choice for agents and customers.

Industry experts have praised Willis’s leadership and believe his return will strengthen Keller Williams’ ability to compete in the future. Throughout his career, Willis has held various leadership roles within Keller Williams and has consistently demonstrated his forward-thinking approach and commitment to serving agents and brokerage partners.

In early 2022, Willis was offered an executive-level position at eXp Realty but faced a legal obstacle due to a restraining order preventing him from joining any real estate brokerage viewed as a direct competitor to Keller Williams. This highlights the level of respect and recognition Willis commands within the industry.

As the real estate industry continues to evolve and face challenges, having a leader like Mark Willis, who is deeply knowledgeable about the company and understands the business at the highest level, is crucial. Keller Williams can leverage Willis’s experience to navigate uncertain times and continue providing powerful customer and business experiences.

In conclusion, the