René Galvan named CEO of Houston Association of Realtors after Bob Hale retires

After more than three decades, the Houston Association of Realtors is welcoming a new CEO. On Monday, the association announced its appointment of René Galvan as its new CEO and president. 

Galvan is replacing Bob Hale, who retired on Jan. 31. Hale served as the association’s president and CEO for 37 years and has been with the association for a total of 53 years. He was awarded the title of CEO Emeritus by the trade group’s board. 

“This organization has been my life’s work,” Hale said in a statement. “I am proud of what we’ve built together and confident that HAR is in excellent hands with René Galvan as President and CEO.”

While new to these roles, Galvan has been a part of HAR’s leadership team since 1996, holding the role of executive vice president since 1998.

Early on during Galvan’s career at HAR, he worked with Hale to shape the original concept of HAR.com, which launched in 1997 and now showcases listings across the state of Texas. As executive vice president at HAR, Galvan worked to expand the services provided to members, a task he accomplished without raising member dues for the past 23 years. 

“I am most proud of building a team of incredible professionals and staying focused on our mission of helping members succeed,” Galvan said in a statement. “As President and CEO, my priority is to continue strengthening our services, tools and support that our 50,000 members rely on in this rapidly changing real estate environment.”

Galvan is taking the helm at HAR during a time when many local Realtor associations and MLSs are reevaluating their role in the real estate industry. Some of this has come from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) who has put the onus of enforcing and enacting many rules onto local associations, while other camps are also pressing for local associations to separate from their MLS operations.