Pacific Union has hired away 16 agents from three teams at competing brokerage Keller Williams, showing its clout following the unexpected departure of top-producer Sally Forster Jones and her team to Compass.
Pacific Union has recruited Regina Vannicola and her team of five to join its Ocean Park and Santa Monica offices, the company said. Vannicola will be bringing agents Maureen Madison, Sharlene Chang, Paul Kang, Oliver Scherillo and Michelle Liberman.
Vannicola, a star broker, had the highest number of transaction units sold in Santa Monica in 2017, according to figures from the Multiple Listing Service.
The company is also opening a new office in Highland Park, at 5715 N. Figueroa Street. For that office, it has recruited the three agents from Keller’s Brad Holmes Group and seven from the company’s L34 Group. Deirdre Salomone and Terry Saltzman will lead the L34 Group.
In late January, the firm also poached Leah Sternberg from Compass, naming her vice president of business development. Earlier this month, Compass returned the favor, hiring Jones along with her team of 25 agents from Pacific Union.
San Francisco-based Pacific Union, under the leadership of Mark McLaughlin, recently consolidated three local brokerages under its wing. The firm rebranded John Aaroe Group, Gibson International and Partners Trust under the Pacific Union banner on Jan. 1.
Pacific Union now has more than 1,700 real estate professionals across 51 offices throughout Northern and Southern California.
Calls to Keller Williams were not immediately returned.