Former Harcourts NZ CEO expands company into Canada

Former Harcourts NZ CEO expands company into Canada

26 November 2015

Hayden Duncan, former CEO for Harcourts, New Zealand’s largest real estate group, is to lead the company’s expansion into Canada.

Mr Duncan, who left his role as Harcourts NZ CEO at the end of October, will move to Canada early in 2016 to take up the role of CEO of Harcourts Canada, with the aim of establishing a network of Harcourts franchises in the North American country. The company will be based in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Canada will be the tenth country in which Harcourts has offices located around the world. The company was founded in Wellington in 1888.

Mr Duncan says there are many reasons why Canada is an obvious choice for Harcourts’ next global market expansion.

“In many ways the market in Canada is very similar to that in New Zealand and Australia, plus it is a Commonwealth country so it is familiar in other ways. It also neighbours the USA where we already have a presence in the market and one that is growing quickly. It makes good sense to keep extending that growth into Canada.

“The crucial difference really is that consumer expectations of realtors and the real estate industry in Canada are much lower than they are in New Zealand,” Mr Duncan says.

“That actually presents us with a fantastic opportunity. Harcourts is based on innovative systems, world-class training and strong core values. That has created a brand people trust,” he says.

Harcourts NZ has been voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted real estate brand for the past three years running in the annual Reader’s Digest trusted brands survey.

“We have an opportunity to set a new level of expectation for real estate buyers and vendors in Canada. We are committed to giving our clients the best possible service to achieve the best possible result; not just the fastest or first result,” Mr Duncan says.

Managing director for Harcourts International Ltd, Mike Green says the expansion into Canada marks an exciting point in Harcourts’ 127-year history. “Canada offers an excellent chance to really stake our claim on the market there and Hayden is the right man for that job.

“He’s done a great job of leading the company in New Zealand and will, I’m sure, take the company from strength to strength in Canada,” Mr Green says.

Prior to taking on the role of CEO for Harcourts Canada, Mr Duncan served as CEO of Harcourts NZ for five years, overseeing a period of strong growth and development for the company. He is succeeded as Harcourts NZ CEO by Chris Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy has been with Harcourts for 23 years, starting as a sales consultant before moving into franchise ownership. He was later appointed business development manager for Harcourts in Christchurch. Most recently he has been the company’s national auction manager and is also a highly regarded, accomplished auctioneer.

ENDS

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