REMAX Names New President; Tech Exec Joins Offerpad Board

Why It Matters

These leadership moves signal strategic shifts: REMAX aims to accelerate global market share, Offerpad deepens its AI capabilities to stay competitive in the iBuyer space, and NAHB positions itself to influence policy that could reshape housing supply dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Chris Lim now leads REMAX global network
• Lim will drive international growth and affiliate services
• Offerpad adds AI expert Tela Mathias to board
• Mathias will guide AI pricing and governance
• NAHB elects Bill Owens as 2026 chairman

Pulse Analysis

REMAX’s elevation of Chris Lim to president reflects a calculated effort to capitalize on his proven growth track record. Lim’s background at Christie’s International equips him to scale REMAX’s franchise model beyond North America, targeting emerging markets where agent recruitment and brand differentiation are critical. By retaining his chief growth officer role, REMAX signals a seamless integration of strategic vision and operational execution, a combination that could boost its global agent count and reinforce its position against rivals like Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker.

Offerpad’s board appointment of Tela Gallagher Mathias underscores the iBuyer’s commitment to embedding advanced technology into its core operations. Mathias brings a rare blend of AI expertise, mortgage‑finance insight, and regulatory‑tech leadership, positioning Offerpad to refine algorithmic pricing models and streamline risk assessment. Her presence on the Audit and Compensation committees also enhances governance, ensuring that rapid AI deployment aligns with compliance standards—a crucial factor as the industry faces heightened scrutiny over data usage and consumer protection.

The National Association of Home Builders’ selection of Bill Owens as chairman signals a proactive stance on the nation’s housing‑affordability crisis. Owens, a veteran builder, will steer NAHB’s advocacy for deregulating permitting processes and updating building codes, initiatives aimed at expanding supply and lowering costs. This leadership change arrives as policymakers grapple with inflationary pressures and a tight labor market, making NAHB’s influence on legislation potentially pivotal for the broader real‑estate ecosystem.

REMAX names new president; tech exec joins Offerpad board

Illustration by Lanette Behiry / Real Estate News

A year after joining REMAX, Chris Lim has been appointed president. Plus, Tela Gallagher Mathias joins Offerpad’s board; NAHB names 2026 leaders.

February 18, 2026 • 4 mins

Editor's note: As an industry with millions of agents and over 100,000 brokerage companies, new leaders rise to the top every day. Here we highlight executives and other notable leaders who've recently taken on, or stepped away from, roles that influence the residential real‑estate landscape.

---

Chris Lim named president of REMAX

Just a year after joining REMAX as chief growth officer and executive vice president, Chris Lim has been promoted to president, the brokerage company announced today. Lim will continue to serve as chief growth officer in his expanded role.

Previously the president of Christie’s International Real Estate, Lim moved to REMAX in February 2025. In his new position, he will oversee the entire REMAX global network with a focus on international growth and affiliate services. Since joining the firm, Lim has helped the company increase its global agent count and international presence, while establishing new business options for broker/owners, according to a news release.

“Chris is a proven growth leader with a deep understanding of what drives success for agents, franchisees and brands,” REMAX CEO Erik Carlson said in the announcement. The promotion, Carlson added, “reflects both his contributions and our confidence in his vision for the future of REMAX.”

The company has also strengthened its global sales team with the addition of Pierre Montagna as vice president and Lisa Sennstrom as director. Montagna’s sales experience spans multiple industries and cultures, while Sennstrom brings 16 years of experience in real‑estate sales, leadership, operations and consulting.

These latest leadership moves, in addition to other high‑level appointments over the past year, reinforce REMAX’s focus on “smarter global expansion, a unified vision rooted in stronger network support, and greater alignment across every facet of the organization,” the company said.

---

Tech expert with AI background joins Offerpad’s board

Offerpad announced this week that it has appointed Tela Gallagher Mathias to serve on its board of directors. The 25‑year tech‑industry veteran — whose focus has largely been on mortgage, housing finance and regulation — will serve on the iBuyer’s Audit and Compensation committees, according to a news release.

Mathias brings a background in tech modernization and has in recent years developed expertise in generative AI. She is the CEO of regulatory‑tech company Phoenix Burst and also serves as chief technology officer at PhoenixTeam, where her focus is on AI‑driven product development. She previously held leadership roles at Black Knight Financial Services and at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Mathias brings a rare combination of AI expertise, enterprise technology leadership, and deep housing‑industry experience,” Offerpad Founder and CEO Brian Bair said.

“As we continue building AI‑driven pricing, analytics, and platform capabilities, her perspective will be instrumental in strengthening governance, scaling responsibly, and advancing our long‑term technology strategy,” Bair added.

Mathias’ appointment comes on the heels of two recent additions to the iBuyer’s C‑suite. In late January, Rich Ford joined as chief strategy officer and president of the company’s Cash Offer Marketplace, and Dr. Jai Singh was brought into the fold days later as Offerpad’s chief pricing and analytics officer.

---

NAHB announces 2026 leadership

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has announced its new chairman following a vote by members at an event this week in Orlando, Florida.

Bill Owens will take over as chairman of the board, a post most recently held by Buddy Hughes. Hughes will shift into the 2026 immediate past chairman role.

Owens is an Ohio‑based builder and remodeler who leads Owens Construction, the company he founded in 1982. He brings over four decades of experience in the residential construction industry.

In a news release, Owens nodded to persistent housing‑affordability challenges and said boosting supply “is the best way” to ease that strain.

“NAHB this year will work with policymakers to repeal inefficient regulatory rules, alleviate permitting roadblocks and adopt reasonable and cost‑effective building codes,” Owens said, adding that the organization will collaborate with politicians on both sides of the aisle “to show why homeownership must remain a top national priority and why it is essential to the economic and social well‑being of our nation.”

In addition to Owens, the NAHB announced that:

• Bob Peterson was elected 2026 vice chairman

• Gary Campbell was elected 2026 second vice chairman

• Jim Chapman was elected 2026 third vice chairman