Compass poaches first broker from market leader @properties

Let the poaching begin.

Ryan Lee of @properties has joined Compass, marking the firm’s first broker defection since the venture-backed rival opened up shop in Chicago.

Lee and another newcomer, Kimberly Kappelman, will lead a new team of agents at Compass, the company said. Kappelman jumped from Keller Williams’ Barrington office. Both agents will begin working from the company’s Lakeview office.

Compass’ arrival on the scene has already created waves. Most prominently, that can be seen in a huge billboard in Lakeview that @properties paid for, with a goofy-looking man holding a compass, advising: “Don’t ask for directions from a tourist.”

Thaddeus Wong, @properties co-founder, told The Real Deal on Monday about Compass entering the market that his firm had not yet lost any agents to his rival.

Lee made Chicago Agent Magazine’s list of top 20 Chicagoland agents for year-to-date growth over the first 10 months of 2015, versus the first ten months of 2014. He posted a 169 percent increase in total deal volume on the list.

Monday was also the day that Lee’s move was official, according to a Compass representative.

Compass has lured away top agents in other markets it has entered, like New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, offering them enhanced marketing budgets and signing bonuses.

Lee declined to comment for this article. Kappelman did not return a request for comment in time for publication.