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Brown Harris Stevens veteran Hall Willkie is stepping down from his role as New York City brokerage president and into a full-time consulting role with the firm as of July 1, according to a company announcement on Monday.
The brokerage’s East Side sales manager, Itzy Garay, and its West Side sales manager, Kevin Kovesci, will become co-presidents of the firm’s New York City region in Willkie’s place.
Willkie has been affiliated with the firm for 37 years, and his consulting contract will be for a six-year term. In a letter that Willkie penned to the firm on Monday, he characterized the move as “an active new chapter” for him at the brokerage.
Hall Willkie | Brown Harris Stevens
“As I step into this next phase, I do so with enthusiasm and great confidence,” Willkie wrote. “My role may be shifting, but my passion for this company and this industry remains unwavering. I look forward to working closely with all of you in my consulting capacity, continuing to support our collective growth and success.
“Stepping down as President was not a decision I made lightly,” Willkie continued. “Brown Harris Stevens will continue to be more than just a workplace for me — it remains a home, a community, and a lifelong endeavor. I feel fortunate to know that we will still all be working together.”
Willkie started his real estate career at William Pitt, Inc., and held management positions at Sotheby’s International Realty and Douglas Elliman before joining Brown Harris Stevens in 1989. Over the course of his career, he has served as a governor of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and co-chairman of the association’s Board of Directors, Ethics Committee and Interfirm Committee. He received REBNY’s Henry Forster Memorial Award in 1993.
Bess Freedman | Brown Harris Stevens
During Willkie’s tenure, the brokerage was sold in 1995 to Terra Holdings, and Bess Freedman was promoted first to co-president in 2017 and then CEO in 2018.
“I look forward to my continued work with Hall, building on the incredible values he instilled at Brown Harris Stevens these past 37 years, and welcoming Kevin and Itzy as NYC co-presidents,” CEO Bess Freedman said in a statement. “The new leadership structure allows Hall to focus on his passion for closely mentoring agents, while Itzy and Kevin help to shape and grow our New York brokerage. This is truly a win-win for everyone, and an incredibly exciting milestone for Brown Harris Stevens.”
Itzy Garay | Brown Harris Stevens
Kovesci is a 30-year industry vet who headed Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy’s Downtown office prior to joining Brown Harris Stevens in 2006.
Garay brings 20 years of industry experience to her new role and has held management positions at Town Residential and Halstead before joining Brown Harris Stevens with the Halstead merger in 2020.
“We are excited to work alongside Hall and Bess as NYC co-presidents in this new chapter at Brown Harris Stevens,” the incoming co-presidents said in a joint statement. “Hall has been and will continue to be an incredible mentor to our agents and executives, and we are fortunate to have him as a resource going forward.”
Kevin Kovesci | Brown Harris Stevens
In his announcement on Monday, Willkie also expressed gratitude to the firm’s agents, leadership and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the years.
“I want to assure you that this transition has been carefully planned,” Willkie wrote. “I am thrilled to join Bess in congratulating Kevin Kovesci and Itzy Garay, who are widely esteemed in our great industry, as newly appointed co-presidents of Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales, NYC. Bess and I have every confidence in their extraordinary sales leadership and proven success.
“Side by side, we will continue to build on our success, embrace new challenges, and reach new heights,” he continued. “Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your unwavering dedication to excellence. I look forward to this with great anticipation, and I am grateful to continue sharing the journey with all of you.”
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