Brenda Buchanan has been appointed CEO of Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), following a national search.
The appointment is effective immediately, as announced by RECO’s board of directors on Monday.
Following the retirement of the previous CEO Michael Beard, RECO’s board named Buchanan as interim CEO in February 2025, following a six-year tenure as the organization’s COO.
“I am honoured to continue to lead the RECO team as we build on our momentum as a consumer-focused, forward-looking and technology-enabled regulator,” said Buchanan in a statement.
“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 is an “accomplished and empathetic leader,” said RECO, who brings to the CEO role “deep experience, strong support for team and stakeholder engagement, and an unwavering commitment to consumer protection.”
She has more than 20 years of experience in the Ontario regulatory environment and has held senior positions in both public and private sector organizations.
“We are proud to welcome Brenda as RECO’s new CEO,” said Katie Steinfeld, chair of RECO’s board.
“Brenda is a bold, forward-thinking leader whose vision and drive will lead RECO into a new era of innovation, transparency, and consumer trust. Her appointment marks an exciting chapter for RECO as we embrace change and reimagine the future of real estate regulation in Ontario.”
