CEO Budge Huskey is retiring at the end of the year and will be succeeded by President Jackie Thiel. Plus, Eric Hauser joins ENRG as SVP of growth.
Editor’s note: As an industry with millions of agents and over 100,000 brokerage companies, new leaders rise to the top every day. Here we highlight executives and other notable leaders who’ve recently taken on, or stepped away from, roles that influence the residential real estate landscape.
Longtime Premier Sotheby’s CEO Budge Huskey to retire
After 10 years leading Florida-based Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Budge Huskey plans to retire at the end of the year. The four-decade industry veteran will be succeeded by Jackie Thiel, who currently serves as president.
The announcement coincided with Premier SIR’s 2026 Leadership Summit last week, which included a celebration of Huskey’s 10th anniversary with the company. Prior to leading Premier, which is home to more than 1,200 agents across 40 locations in Florida and North Carolina, Huskey served as president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate.
In a LinkedIn post, Premier SIR said Huskey’s “tenure has been defined by extraordinary growth, including becoming the No. 1 Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate worldwide by closed sales volume, and fostering a culture built on excellence, collaboration and a shared commitment to those we serve. Through it all, Budge’s relentless spirit to elevate the lives of those we serve has remained at the heart of his leadership.”
Jackie Thiel, who will move into the CEO role effective Jan. 1, joined Premier SIR in 2024 after more than two decades in leadership roles at Long & Foster. “Having had the privilege of working alongside [Huskey] these past two years, I appreciate even more the kind of leader and person he is,” Thiel wrote on LinkedIn. “I’m incredibly grateful for his partnership, his trust and his friendship.”
ENRG adds business development pro to executive team
ENRG Realty, a cloud-based brokerage launched in 2024 by former eXp and Real executives, has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of Eric Hauser as SVP of growth, the firm announced this week.
Hauser transitioned to real estate about 10 years ago after a lengthy career in business consulting, and he most recently served as SVP of growth at Realty of America. Previously, he was director of business development at multiple brokerages including Weichert, ERA, Anywhere and EXIT Realty, according to his LinkedIn profile.
As ENRG pursues national expansion, Hauser will leverage his experience advising real estate professionals on growth, profitability and positioning to help the firm’s agents, teams and brokerage owners grow, according to a news release.
“I’ve spent years working with brokerage owners who have built incredible businesses, but the industry is changing, and traditional models don’t always give them the flexibility they need,” said Hauser. “I believe the timing is right for a model that gives real estate professionals the freedom to build their businesses their way, with the infrastructure and support to compete and grow.”
Earlier this year, ENRG promoted Donnie Pingaro to serve as its first chief brokerage officer overseeing its national strategy. More recently, the boutique firm introduced new offerings for its agents and their clients, including an estate planning partnership with Trust & Will and access to nationwide health coverage.