Abercrombys has announced the appointment of Sally O’Connell as its next CEO.
O’Connell will take up this appointment from February 2025, succeeding Andrew Harlock, who will continue to be actively involved as a Shareholder and provide ongoing support to the sales arm of the business.
O'Connell, considered by many to be a trailblazer in Australia's finance and real estate sectors, has led high-performing teams and achieved outstanding results in rapidly shifting business environments, for the past two decades.
O’Connell is known best for her foresight and innovation and has earned a reputation both as an astute strategist and a mentor who excels at fostering growth and building businesses.
Her impressive background includes tenures at Macquarie Bank, and most recently, leadership of The Agency in Victoria and Tasmania. O’Connell was also a former Director and remains passionately involved in advocacy initiatives at the RiSE Initiative Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of real estate industry employees.
On her appointment, O’Connell says, ‘It’s an honour to be entrusted with the opportunity to propel Abercrombys toward continued success.
For over 20 years, the business has been a leader in the luxury and lifestyle real estate market, building a legacy of excellence and trust.
Today, the business is in a strong position, the team is high-performing, and while the housing market grows increasingly complex, there is significant potential ahead—driven by the predicted population and business growth of our vibrant city.”
“My vision for Abercrombys is to create a seamless, portfolio-driven approach that transforms how we serve our clients. By integrating the sale and management of our residences across town, coastal, and country locations, the goal is that we become their trusted agency for life, supporting them through every stage of their property journey and across generations,” Ms O’Connell added.
Now entering its 20th year in operation, Abercrombys is focused on growth, innovation, and expanding its reach. With a strong international presence, the business continues to connect with expat clients living abroad while influencing astute property investors seeking opportunities in Australia’s highly coveted residential property markets.
O’Connell is well positioned to see the vision come to fruition. She has a proven track record in transformation, having led and transformed teams, implemented revolutionary strategies, and delivered outstanding outcomes in some of Australia’s most competitive real estate markets.
Sally’s corporate life began in finance, where she directed capital-raising initiatives for property-backed funds, private equity investments, and aviation asset classes at Investec. Transitioning to real estate, she brought with her an entrepreneurial acumen and pioneering mindset and was able to assist leading brands in the Melbourne luxury real estate market.
Her unique combination of hands-on real estate experience and an extensive finance background soon earned her the prestigious position of Victorian Segment Head of Real Estate at Macquarie Bank.
Drawing on Macquarie’s many years of expertise in financing the real estate sector, Sally became a trusted advisor, leveraging her deep industry knowledge to identify best practices and share transformative insights with her clients.
Commenting on the appointment of his successor, outgoing CEO and Director Andrew Harlock said, “O’Connell was a natural choice to lead the business into its next chapter. She’s attuned to our strategic vision, she’s open-minded and inclusive and she thrives on embracing new ideas, new people, new tomorrows, and big results.”
“Abercrombys’ choice to appoint Sally as CEO has been made not only because she’s the best in her field, but because of her laser focus on growth and innovation. We welcome her stewardship and the infectious enthusiasm she brings to our business,” he added.
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