Douglas Elliman Taps Ex-One Sotheby’s CMO as Brokerage Pres

Douglas Elliman is adding another executive to its fold.

The firm tapped Lena Johnson, the former chief marketing officer of Miami-based One Sotheby’s International Realty, to serve as its president of national brokerage, Elliman announced on Tuesday.

In her new role, Johnson is tasked with heading the company’s brokerage division, a position previously held by Scott Durkin, who was terminated in 2024 amid a leadership shakeup. After Durkin was ousted from Elliman, the firm’s president and CEO of New York and the Northeast, Richard Ferrari, worked alongside Elliman’s CEO, Michael Liebowitz, to run its brokerage segment.

Johnson is taking over the role during a time of increased consolidation across the brokerage industry, including Compass’ recent merger with Anywhere Real Estate, the parent company of brands such as Corcoran and Coldwell Banker. In a press release about Johnson’s appointment, she noted Elliman’s status “not as a big-box brokerage” as one of its selling points.

Among Johnson’s responsibilities are overseeing the brokerage’s expansion into new luxury markets and recruiting. She will report directly to Liebowitz and work from the company’s office at 575 Madison Avenue.

“Lena understands the luxury consumer at the highest level and has repeatedly built businesses that attract elite talent and deliver elevated client experiences,” Liebowitz said in the press release.

Johnson joined One Sotheby’s in 2023 and left in 2025 to serve as the chief financial officer for wellness venture Revive Distribution. Before One Sotheby’s. Before joining One Sotheby’s, Johnson spent five years with Compass as its vice president of marketing and the head of its luxury division. Her previous posts also include an eight-year stint as the senior director of sales and marketing with Condé Nast’s Vogue.

Johnson is joining Elliman during what Liebowitz has called the firm’s “growth phase,” which includes plans to expand its agent headcount and build out its leadership team. Liebowitz outlined his vision for the year during the firm’s fourth quarter earnings call in March, when the company reported $69 million in net income after a period of losses.

Liebowitz added Wendy Purvey as chief strategy officer in November, after Purvey worked as a consultant with the firm’s Florida offices and as the president and chief operations officer of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty in Southern California.

Earlier this year, the company brought back Caitlin Chagan from a new development advisory startup, Redeavor. Chagan was with Redeavor for less than a year before returning to Elliman’s to head its development marketing division in New York.

About a month after Chagan’s return, another longtime member of Elliman’s new development cohort, broker Samantha Behringer, also rejoined the company after just a year with Compass.