The regulator of real estate services in Canada's largest province has a new chief executive who's already familiar with the job.
Following a national search, Brenda Buchanan was named by the board of directors of the Real Estate Council of Ontario, or RECO, as the group's new leader. RECO's board appointed Buchanan interim CEO in February upon Michael Beard's retirement.
"Brenda is a bold, forward-thinking leader whose vision and drive will lead RECO into a new era of innovation, transparency, and consumer trust," RECO Chair Katie Steinfeld said in a statement. "Her appointment marks an exciting chapter for RECO as we embrace change and reimagine the future of real estate regulation in Ontario."
The Real Estate Council of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization that regulates real estate agents and brokerages across the province. It is charged with protecting consumers by ensuring that real estate agents, brokers and brokerages understand and comply with the law.
Buchanan has over 20 years of experience in the Ontario regulatory environment and has held senior positions in both the public and private sectors.
From 2019- until February, she served as RECO's chief operations officer and as a member of the council's senior management team, where she led the strategic and business planning process.
Before joining RECO, Buchanan spent more than 12 years working at an Ontario-based industry regulator in various executive roles. She was also an executive with the Canada Lands Co., a federal Crown corporation.
"I'm excited to deepen our collaboration with the Ontario government and our stakeholders as we work together to support the real estate profession and ensure strong consumer protection," Buchanan said in a statement.