Scott Durkin Named Douglas Elliman's Chief Executive Officer

Douglas Elliman, announced today that it has promoted its President and Chief Operating Officer, Scott Durkin, to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Dottie Herman has been appointed Vice-Chair. “Douglas Elliman has proven to be my most rewarding professional experience to date,” said Mr. Durkin. “I look forward to expanding upon the legacy of our brand built by my friend and mentor Dottie Herman as the market leader in luxury real estate. I also welcome the opportunity to further advance our technology-focused initiatives that allow our agents to work faster and more efficiently on behalf of their customers and clients.”

Scott Durkin

Hand selected by Elliman Executive Chairman Howard M. Lorber and Ms. Herman, Mr. Durkin joined Douglas Elliman in 2015 as executive vice president of acquisitions and growth. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in October 2016 and named President in 2017. With his new title, Mr. Durkin will continue to lead the brokerage, its operations, technology initiatives, and strategic growth efforts across the United States. During the 12 months ended June 30, 2021, Douglas Elliman closed nearly $43 billion in sales.

"As President and COO of Douglas Elliman, Scott has taken our firm to the next level with major initiatives to strengthen our brand, our culture, our technology and most importantly, the way our agents conduct their business,” said Mr. Lorber. “It is a thrill to pass the CEO title to my friend Scott Durkin whose career I have watched since acquiring Elliman in 2003 when I joined the New York City brokerage community,” said Ms. Herman.

 Ms. Herman has been consistently ranked in Crain's New York Business 50 Most Powerful Women in New York and Inman News Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders. In 2015, she was inducted into the Long Island Business News Hall of Fame and listed in the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs in America by Inc. Magazine among the Inc. 5000 list where Douglas Elliman was named as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. In 2016, Ms. Herman was named on Forbes 2016 List of America’s Self-Made Women as well as in 2017. In her role as Vice-Chair, Ms. Herman will serve in an advisory capacity to Mr. Lorber and Mr. Durkin as well as continue to mentor Douglas Elliman executives and agents across the country. 

“Dottie and I could not have imagined that the venture we embarked on in 2003 would grow into one of the largest and most important residential brokerage firms in the United States. Her vision for and dedication to Douglas Elliman has proven invaluable and I am grateful for her service,” said Mr. Lorber.

Mr. Durkin was the driving force behind Douglas Elliman’s celebrated, next-generation platforms including public relations, technology, and marketing. He was instrumental in launching the firm’s new brand look and feel, a new Elliman.com and advertising campaign dubbed The Next Move is Yours, all in the last two years. Mr. Durkin also brought about more open lines of communication for agents and consumers with The Douglas Elliman Podcast Channel, Elliman Cares initiatives and cutting-edge social media platforms such as TikTok.

Since beginning his career as a sales agent with the Corcoran Group in 1991, Mr. Durkin grew his reputation, becoming a protégé of Barbara Corcoran.

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Real Estate Moves: Lydia Sussek Joins Douglas Elliman

Lydia Sussek

 Douglas Elliman, has announced that top producing New York City agent Lydia Sussek has joined the firm. A respected leader in the field with over 35 years of luxury market experience, Sussek oversees more than $500 million in inventory, helping sellers, buyers, investors, renters and developers negotiate winning results on units of all sizes. Sussek and Nasr will be working out of the brokerage’s flagship office located at 575 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, while Stahlke is based in Madrid, Spain.

“Lydia is highly regarded throughout the industry for her in-depth global market knowledge, strong client relations and clever negotiating skills honed from her background in business,” said Howard M. Lorber, Executive Chairman, Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. “We look forward to her continued success at Douglas Elliman.”

“I am thrilled to join the powerhouse firm Douglas Elliman,” said Sussek. “Douglas Elliman’s exclusive partnership with Knight Frank will allow me to better service my robust international clientele and build an even bigger global property network. This component paired with the firm’s first-class resources in technology, marketing and public relations assures me this is the best next step for my team, and more importantly, ensures fabulous results for my clients.”

Sussek has worked in new development representing properties up to $60 million. Notable transactions include 225 Fifth Avenue, Penthouse S for $7.9 million, 31 West 21st Street, 9th Floor for $7.8 million and 920 Fifth Avenue, 9B for $7.3 million, as well, Sussek is known for securing high end residential rental deals in the $20,000 to $70,000 per month category. Sussek also services top international luxury brands, and has worked with various celebrity clients, including musician Axl Rose, English activist Heather Mills, and Italian soccer player Andrea Pirlo. 

“We are proud to have Lydia and her team join Douglas Elliman,” said Steven James, President and CEO of Douglas Elliman New York City. “Lydia has long been a force in real estate, in New York and beyond. Her experience in branding, design and architecture in addition to her successful track record in high-end sales and rentals makes her a natural fit for our brokerage.”

Prior to real estate, Sussek ran her own luxury branding and design firms in Como, Italy, Los Angeles, CA and New York working with diplomats, celebrities, chefs and international executives in fashion, entertainment and a wide array of industries. She and her husband John Sussek are involved in residential and commercial properties in Manhattan and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

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Corcoran Sunshine's Norma Jean Callahan Shifts To Residential Sales

Richard Hottinger & Norma Jean Callahan

The Corcoran Group announced that leading real estate professional Norma Jean Callahan is joining veteran Corcoran agent Richard Hottinger - to create the Hottinger-Callahan Team. Norma Jean and Richard are supported by a dedicated team of nine agents and will serve both the New York and Miami markets.

“This powerhouse team will be unstoppable,” said Pamela Liebman, President and CEO of The Corcoran Group.  “N.J. and Richard have exceptional expertise in both existing residential and new development sales.  Together, they have mastered all facets of the market.”

Norma Jean is moving to her new role after 13 years at Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, where she most recently held the title of Senior Sales Director.  Among top echelon of New York’s new development brokers, she successfully helped launch and market the luxurious Baccarat Hotel and Residences and the iconic 220 Central Park South, as well as the stunning 3-tower community of Waterline Square on Manhattan’s West Side.  In total, sales at these premier sites have topped $5 billion.

Her industry experience spans more than two decades.  Prior to Joining Corcoran Sunshine, Norma Jean sold single-family homes at Coldwell Banker - and was ranked in the top 98th percentile of agents nationwide after her first year in the business.  Well-versed in working with both domestic and international ultra-luxury buyers, she has the instinctive ability to match individuals and properties.

“We are proud that Norma Jean is staying a part of our Corcoran family,” explained Kelly Kennedy Mack, President of Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group. “She is a consummate professional and we all look forward to what this next chapter in her real estate career holds.”

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