Massachusetts Association of Realtors names new CEO

Realtors in the Bay State have a new leader. Theresa Hatton is the new CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, beginning June 3.

The MAR Executive Committee appointed Hatton, formerly director of professional development and industry relations at the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, after a 5.5-month nationwide search.

Theresa Hatton

“Through multiple rounds of interviews, Theresa proved to be the most outstanding candidate out of a group of outstanding candidates,” said 2019 MAR President Anne Meczywor in a statement.

“We felt that any of our top five candidates would have been great for MAR, but Theresa checked off every box that we envisioned when we started the search process. She is smart, strong, experienced, articulate, approachable, and engaging. We wanted the best and we got her,” Meczywor told Inman via email.

This is not Hatton’s first rodeo as an association CEO. She has previously served as CEO of the Greenwich Association of Realtors and the Williamson County Association of Realtors.

At MAR, she will replace Robert Authier, who served MAR for more than 23 years including 17 years as CEO. Authier and the MAR board of directors agreed to a mutual separation in September, the Waltham-based trade group told Inman.

As MAR’s CEO and executive vice president, Hatton will have many duties, including overseeing the effective implementation of all association activities and services in accordance with the MAR strategic plan, providing advice and counsel to the state’s 13 local Realtor associations, managing the association’s finances in conjunction with MAR’s treasurer, acting as a MAR spokesperson, coordinating and supervising the activities of MAR’s professional staff and helping to develop the association’s goals, objectives and related policies, MAR said.

Hatton will also serve on MAR’s Executive Committee and New England Realtors Committee. MAR has more than 25,000 members.

Hatton’s first priority as CEO will be to prepare for MAR’s annual grassroots lobbying event — “Realtor Day on Beacon Hill” — on June 12.

“On that day, we’ll be representing Realtors, the real estate industry, and homeowners in Massachusetts by speaking with legislators about the need for more housing production, stopping unfair and unreliable transfer taxes, and assisting homeowners with the ability to save and purchase a home,” Hatton told Inman via email.

Hatton also hopes to increase the amount of collaboration between MAR and local associations.

“By increasing collaboration, we’ll be able to capitalize on our members’ diverse set of talents to strengthen their networking, education, and advocacy opportunities,” she said.

Massachusetts is home to the first pilot market for Redfin’s controversial new Redfin Direct program, in which buyers can submit offers for Redfin-listed homes without buyer’s agent representation. The program hit a regulatory snag this week when the state’s Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons determined Redfin is not providing a mandatory agency disclosure form as part of the program.

Asked what she thinks of the Redfin Direct program and what its overall impact could be on MAR members and real estate consumers, Hatton said, “The real estate business is entrepreneurial by nature and brokerages offer various business models to provide consumer choice. The Realtor Association doesn’t take a position on business models.

“In terms of Redfin Direct, we’ll defer to Mass. Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Sales Persons. Regardless of the business model, our members need to ensure they are following the regulations as interpreted by the Board and provide the mandatory agency disclosure at the appropriate stage in the sales process.”

Email Andrea V. Brambila.

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