Melissa Rubin leaves Platinum Properties to join Compass

Melissa Rubin, a former partner at Platinum Properties International, has left her firm to join Compass, The Real Deal has learned.

Rubin, a 14-year real estate veteran, is now based in Compass’ Miami Beach office, focusing on buyers from New York, France, South Africa and her native Canada.

“I felt Compass right now is a better fit where the market is, to grow and expand and help our clients that are in the luxury market,” she told TRD.

At Compass, Rubin joins other local heavy hitters that have signed on in recent months, such as brothers Julian and Jacques Cohen.

Miguel Flores, president of Platinum Properties International, told TRD that the split was amicable. “We’re still friendly, we’re still doing deals together,” he said. “She wanted me to join but I decided not to for now. I might at some point, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Rubin began her real estate career after 15 years in the fashion industry, overseeing such retail store concepts as Watch Station and Express. She joined Platinum Properties International at its inception in 2002, she said.

At Compass, she will be “focusing on an elite group of people that really want someone to do everything for them — that is my niche, a concierge approach,” she said.

 “What they all have in common is that they want to be a little more anonymous and discreet in what they are doing and they need help acclimating to our Miami lifestyle,” she said.

New York-based Compass opened its first office in South Florida last year, aiming to capitalize on referrals from its home turf. The firm leased 21,000 square feet of office space at 605 Lincoln Road, with plans for expansion. The firm prides itself on its marketing and tech tools.

Beth Butler, president of Compass Miami, oversees the Compass’ operation. The firm has added a Coconut Grove office and now has a total of 43 agents, a spokesperson told TRD. Nationwide, in addition to New York and Miami, Compass has offices in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts; Los Angeles and Santa Barbara/Montecito, California; Washington D.C.; Aspen/Basalt, Colorado; and the Hamptons. In all, the firm has more than 800 agents nationwide, the spokesperson said.

When Compass launched its Miami operation in late August, its CEO Robert Reffkin told TRD that the South Florida office would concentrate on “middle and high-end products,” from Coral Gables to Fort Lauderdale, with a focus on Miami Beach.

“Miami is one of the most important real estate markets in the world,” Reffkin said at the time. “We are referring more of our clients there than to any other region, so we want to refer them to our own agents, not just to any agents.”