Harcourts VIP inducted into Hall of Fame

Harcourts VIP inducted into Hall of Fame

4 June 2010 : One of the most important people in Harcourts’ history to date, Harcourts International Executive Director Paul Wright, has been inducted into the group’s prestigious Hall of Fame in recognition of the huge contribution he has made to Harcourts’ domestic and international expansion.

Mr Wright, who is one of two shareholders in Harcourts International, has been instrumental in the growth of the Harcourts group, which now includes more than 630 offices and over 4000 sales consultants in nine countries, with plans in place to be in 25 countries by 2014.

One of only a few honoured with membership of the Harcourts Hall of Fame, Mr Wright has progressed from sales consultant to senior management and ownership during his lengthy career with the growing real estate group and was described in a speech at the recent Harcourts New Zealand and Australia conferences as “one of the single most important people in Harcourts’ journey to date”.

“Paul rarely takes the limelight but couldn’t deserve it more. His knowledge of Harcourts is exhaustive and his contribution to the group has been immense,” Head of Real Estate Operations for Harcourts Australasia Bryan Thomson said in an introductory speech.

“He is an exceptional individual who can be relied upon to build relationships and achieve successful outcomes, a great thinker and also a person who gets things done, someone who has earned immense respect throughout our organisation and industry and who is an individual who cares deeply about Harcourts and the people around him.”

As Mr Thomson explained, Mr Wright, who was born in Dunedin but bred in Christchurch, studied then worked as a surveyor before commencing his real estate career around 30 years ago as a Sales Consultant with Collins Real Estate in Christchurch

He stayed with the company as it joined forces with Wellington-based Harcourts & Co to form Harcourts Real Estate Ltd, progressing on to branch management before becoming Christchurch Regional Manager and playing a key role during challenging and exciting times in which Harcourts’ ownership changed, the franchise model was introduced and considerable growth in the Harcourts group in New Zealand was achieved.

In May 1992, Mr Wright was involved in the management buy-out of Harcourts from its then owners, Tower Corporation, and became General Manager of the company, which at the time had approximately 90 offices in New Zealand

“Later becoming one of two shareholders in parent company Harcourts International and taking on the role of Executive Director, in recent years Paul has played a key role in negotiating international partnerships and acquisitions and has had overall responsibility for Harcourts-Value-Added Services – Mortgage Express and Insurance Express in New Zealand and Harcourts Financial Services and Strand Conveyancing in Australia,” Mr Thomson said.

“He’s not in the limelight much ... but make no mistake, Paul Wright has been a key force in the success of Harcourts and when he moves into the role of Board Chairman in a few months he will continue to be so.”

Commenting on his honour, Mr Wright said he had thoroughly enjoyed his many years and roles with Harcourts and was humbled to be joining the small group of esteemed individuals in the Harcourts Hall of Fame.

Thanking his family for their support and the Harcourts team, which he described as his “extended family”, Mr Wright said being inducted into the Harcourts Hall of Fame was a very special and significant moment in his life.

“Being inducted into the Harcourts Hall of Fame is one of the proudest moments of my business career,” he said.

ENDS

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