Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the Inman Community and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
Nearly six months after its previous communications vice president resigned, the National Association of Realtors has added two new communications and marketing directors to its executive team. Journalism veteran Bennett Richardson will serve as the senior vice president of marketing and communications, and public relations dynamo Raffi Williams will be the vice president of communications, according to an announcement on Thursday.
TAKE THE INMAN INTEL SURVEY FOR MAY
“Bennett and Raffi bring a powerful mix of experience, vision and strategic insight that will sharpen NAR’s voice and strengthen our communications at a pivotal time for the real estate industry,” NAR CEO Nykia Wright said in a written statement. “We are investing in world-class talent to ensure our members, policymakers and the public clearly understand who we are, what we stand for and the critical role Realtors play in helping people across America achieve the dream of homeownership.”
Bennett Richardson
Richardson comes to NAR from international news platform Semafor, where he served as the general manager and global head of public affairs in the publication’s Washington, D.C., bureau. Richardson has also held executive positions at Google, Protocol, Politico Media Group, Hinge, and several other Washington-area public relations and marketing firms.
“As someone who has spent much of my career telling stories about how policy, business and technology shape our world, I’m thrilled to join an organization with such a clear and important mission to empower our members to help more Americans access homeownership and build generational wealth through real estate,” he said. “I look forward to working with this talented team to tell that story with impact and authenticity.”
Meanwhile, Williams is joining NAR from the Managed Funds Association, where he led the company’s media relations department. Before that, Williams had several senior communications roles at Edelman Smithfield, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and led crisis communications and public affairs strategies for C-suite executives and elected officials.
Raffi Williams
“This role represents a meaningful next step in my career within the housing and real estate industry,” he said. “From my time at HUD to FHFA and now at NAR, I’ve seen firsthand how communications can shape public understanding and affect policy outcomes.”
“I’m excited to leverage my experience to help drive NAR’s mission forward at a time when trust, transparency and advocacy are more important than ever,” he added.
NAR has made two significant changes to its executive team this year, with the Association hiring its first-ever SVP of industry relations in January and slashing 61 positions — primarily in its public relations, communications, content strategy, digital strategy and HR teams — in March.
The changes are part of NAR’s larger restructuring plan, leaders said, as the group attempts to move past a controversial chapter filled with antitrust and other legal woes.
“This decision is part of a broader effort to reshape NAR to ensure it remains a strong, sustainable organization that delivers value to our members,” an NAR spokesperson told Inman in March. “Like any responsible association, we regularly assess our operations to align resources with our strategic priorities. While financial considerations are always an element in any change, this restructure is fundamentally about optimizing NAR for the future.”
