N
AR's New CEO: Nykia Wright

    The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has announced Nykia Wright as its permanent CEO this week. Wright was previously serving as interim CEO since November 2019 when then-CEO Bob Goldberg moved up to a different role within the organization.

    Wright's background includes executive positions at the Chicago Sun-Times, where she served as COO for a year before being promoted to CEO in November 2018. During her tenure at the Sun-Times, Wright led a significant overhaul of the local paper, resulting in the sale of the Chicago Reader alt-weekly and a merger with Chicago Public Media.

    Wright's appointment as permanent CEO of NAR comes at a time when the real estate industry is undergoing significant changes. NAR is seeking to stabilize itself after a series of leadership changes, and Wright's experience in navigating similar challenges at the Sun-Times makes her an ideal candidate to lead the organization through this period of transformation.

    NAR President Kevin Sears expressed his excitement about Wright's appointment, stating, "I am thrilled Nykia is staying on board to lead us through this time of transformation." He added, "Her unwavering commitment to our members makes her the ideal steward for guiding our association through the evolving real estate landscape."

    Wright expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead NAR, stating, "I am honored to have earned the confidence and trust from the Leadership Team to guide this organization at such a critical point." She emphasized her commitment to ensuring NAR remains a powerful and effective voice for the industry and to fulfilling their goal of bringing the privilege of homeownership to more Americans.

    Wright's accomplishments at NAR include her leadership during settlement negotiations earlier this year, which resulted in a landmark $418 million settlement announcement in March. She also played a key role in overseeing and implementing findings from NAR's Culture Transformation Commission, a group of over 70 members who sought to identify issues within NAR's toxic workplace culture and offer solutions to address them.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Wright shared her vision for NAR's future, stating her goal is for the organization to become "the preeminent trade organization across the world." Wright's appointment as permanent CEO of NAR signifies a new era for the organization and the real estate industry as a whole.