It’s deja vu for former CBHK sales director

Ann GuttmanFor Ann Guttman, director of sales at Bond New York’s Chelsea office, deja vu is part of the daily routine. Guttman, who joined the now-defunct Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy in 1992 before assuming the job of sales manager in 2005, said she was devastated when CBHK went belly-up in May 2009. Little did she know that roughly 18 months later, she would be back in the same office, with the same job and even the same assistant manager, Michael Himes. All that’s different, it would seem, is the company name.

“It’s as if we fell asleep, woke up and were in the same place, as different people,” Guttman said.

Of course, Guttman had her concerns about returning.

“Before I actually said yes to the job, I walked in the office incognito to see if it would feel right,” Guttman said. “I walked in and I said, ‘Oh! It’s mine!’ They didn’t change [the office] much, so it felt very comfortable walking in.”

Luckily for Guttman, who manages 16 people, Bond has been able to expand throughout the economic downturn. The rental and sales firm picked up the Chelsea office in July 2009 and expanded its Midtown office this summer. Bond reportedly plans to hire more staff and add to its offices in the coming months.

Bruno Ricciotti, a principal with Bond who helped oversee the firm’s move-in at the Chelsea office at 64 West 21st Street, took an interest in Guttman shortly after CBHK shuttered.

“My name was in his head from long ago. When he came in here and we were moving out, he saw me and how heartbroken I was,” Guttman said. “He said, ‘Well, maybe I’ll hire you someday.'”

Roughly a year and a half later, Guttman got the call.

But while the similarities to her previous job are a comfort to her, Guttman admits that there are differences — for the better.

“Now there’s a Trader Joe’s across the street! It’s a great place to take clients,” Guttman said.