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Brown Harris Stevens will soon be without its longtime president, Hall Willkie.
On Monday, the real estate firm announced that Willkie will be stepping down as New York City brokerage president, effective July 1. But Willkie’s journey with the firm is not over as he will serve as a full-time consultant. His consulting contract is for a six-year term.
Willkie, who has been affiliated with Brown Harris Stevens for 37 years, called the move “an active new chapter” and said it was not a decision he made “lightly,” he wrote in a letter to the company.
“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,” he wrote.
“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. 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.”
Prior to joining Brown Harris Stevens in 1989, Willkie held management positions at Sotheby’s International Realty and Douglas Elliman. He began his real estate career at William Pitt Inc.
In addition to these roles, Willkie has also served as a governor of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and as co-chairman of the association’s board of directors, ethics committee and interfirm committee.
Kevin Kovesci, the firm’s West Side sales manager, and Itzy Garay, its East Side sales manager, will serve as co-presidents of Brown Harris Stevens’ New York City region.
“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,” Bess Freedman, the CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, 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.”
Kovesci brings 30 years of industry experience into this role, having led Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy’s downtown office before joining Brown Harris Stevens in 2006.
Garay, who joined Brown Harris Stevens in 2020 through the Halstead merger, brings 20 years of experience. She has previously held management positions at Town Residential and Halstead.
“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.”
