Realogy Appoints Sherry Chris To Lead Better Homes And Gardens® Real Estate Brand
Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, today announced the appointment of Sherry Chris as president and CEO of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand. This news builds on Realogy's Oct. 8 announcement that the Company had entered into a long-term licensing agreement with Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) to build a new, international residential real estate franchise company under the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand. The new brand will launch in the residential real estate marketplace in July 2008.
Chris will be responsible for directing the platform, growth and development of this new franchise system. With more than 25 years of real estate sales, management and executive experience, Chris most recently served as chief operating officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Chris will report to Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group.
"Sherry is an exceptional real estate executive and business leader, and I am pleased to have her energetic presence at the helm as we embark upon this exciting opportunity," said Perriello. "We look forward to building and operating a new world-class franchise system that will add significant value to those residential real estate brokerage firms that will become franchisees of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate."
"This will be a brand that embodies the future of the real estate industry while grounded in the tradition of the home," said Chris. "The opportunity is tremendous. Better Homes and Gardens has a multi-media consumer brand presence that already exists in millions of households. Meanwhile, we have the rare opportunity to build a new system from the ground up by leveraging our expertise in real estate while benefiting from the full support of Realogy and all of its resources."
Among the top priorities for the new brand during the next nine months will be the development of a platform that incorporates the best information technologies for both consumers and the real estate professionals who affiliate with the brand. Chris plans to develop a new media-rich Web site that will provide engaging and interactive content for a customer-base now highly adept at using the Internet for its real estate needs.
"We will build the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand with an eye on innovation and a respect for tradition," said Chris. "Our innovation will be reflected in a contemporary, high-quality service offering that addresses the needs of today's consumer while providing franchisees with significant competitive advantages. As for tradition, the brand will exemplify a full-service approach to the business that fosters personal relationships to meet the needs of every generation of homebuyers and sellers."
Previously, Chris served Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC as its chief operating officer (COO) beginning December 2006. In her capacity as COO, Chris directed the company's operations, education, mortgage and field services programs. She also focused on communication between Coldwell Banker® corporate headquarters, regional offices and its nearly 4,000-office affiliate network around the world.
About Realogy Corporation
Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, has a diversified business model that includes real estate franchising, brokerage, relocation, and title and settlement services. Realogy's world-renowned brands and business units include Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, The Corcoran Group®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty®, NRT Incorporated, Cartus and Title Resource Group. Headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., Realogy (www.realogy.com) has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. Realogy is owned by an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P., a leading private equity and capital markets investor.
Realogy Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Realogy to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events, circumstances or results, including all statements relating to Realogy's expectations with respect to the development of the Better Homes and Garden brand, are forward-looking statements.
Various risks that could cause actual future results and other future events to differ materially from those estimated by management include, but are not limited to: our substantial debt leverage; limitations on flexibility in operating our business due to restrictions contained in our debt agreements; adverse developments in general business, economic and political conditions, including changes in short-term or long-term interest rates or mortgage-lending practices, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities on a national, regional or international basis; adverse developments in the residential real estate markets, either regionally or nationally, due to lower sales, downward pressure on price, reduced availability of financing or availability only at higher rates and a withdrawal of real estate investors from these markets; our failure (inadvertent or otherwise) to comply with laws and regulations and any changes in laws and regulations; seasonal fluctuation in the residential real estate brokerage business; and local and regional conditions in the areas where our franchisees and brokerage operations are located; our failure to complete future acquisitions or to realize anticipated benefits from completed acquisitions; our failure to maintain or acquire franchisees and brands or the inability of franchisees to survive the current real estate downturn; actions by our franchisees that could harm our business; and our inability to access capital and/or securitization markets on favorable commercial terms.
Consideration should be given to the areas of risk described above, as well as those set forth under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in our Offering Memorandum dated April 5, 2007 (the "Offering Memorandum"), our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and our first and second quarter 2007 reports to holders and indenture trustees, in connection with considering any forward-looking statements that may be made by us and our businesses generally. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless we are required to do so by law.
Media Contact:
Kevin Doell
(973) 407-6653
kevin.doell@bhgrealestate.com