Thomson takes charge of Australasian growth

Bryan Thomson, chief executive officer for Harcourts New Zealand for the past eight years, has been appointed to a new role as head of real estate operations for Harcourts Australasia.

Thomson will now be responsible for the operation and growth of Harcourts in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.

Announcing the appointment, Mike Green, managing director of Harcourts International, said the move was part of the company's strategy to grow Harcourts' global presence from nine countries to 25 countries by 2014.

"Bryan's objective is to ensure Harcourts continues to increase its dominance in New Zealand, which is where Harcourts was established in 1888, and also grow both market coverage and market share across Australia and in Fiji," Green said.

"While Harcourts is already the largest real estate group in New Zealand and the fasting growing in Australia, it is critical that Harcourts' Australasian operation has the focus, resource and leadership to achieve even greater success in these important markets."

In this regard, Thomson had the skills, commitment and passion required to lead Harcourts to be "number one across Australasia", Green said.

Green said the establishment of a head of real estate operations for Harcourts Australasia was an important step for the Harcourts group.

It followed a decision by Harcourts International executive director and co-owner Paul Wright to move into the role of Harcourts International board chairman after 25 years of hands-on involvement in the growth of Harcourts' franchise model domestically and internationally.

"Harcourts' franchise model has already been successfully established in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and China, including Hong Kong, and now our plan is to have 2500 Harcourts offices in 25 countries by 2014," Green said.

Under the new structure, Gilbert Enoka, Harcourts International general manager; Marc Taintey, chief financial officer; and Mike Green will focus on the operation of the entire group.

They will work with Thomson on Australasia and Aaron Hodson, head of international growth, on global expansion.