Top Core agent defects to Elliman

Kirk Rundhaug, a longtime Core agent and senior vice president, has departed the firm to join Prudential Douglas Elliman as an executive vice president, Elliman told The Real Deal today. His departure is the 10th from the firm in the last three months; the most recent departures were David Grossman and Veronica Matto, who both joined Town Residential earlier this month, and Lawrence Rich, who returned to Elliman after five months at Core, last month.

“My past experience opened invaluable opportunities for me that I am very grateful for, and I felt that this was the time to move on and use all I’ve learned to grow even more,” said Rundhaug in a statement, calling Elliman a “powerhouse” company. “Coming to Elliman seemed the logical choice — with its great energy and tremendous resources.”

Rundhaug’s is different from previous departures, which also include Linda Ho, Deborah Straubinger and Liz Dworkin, Core said, because he left Core of his own volition and not because he was asked to leave. (Straubinger and Liz Dworkin told The Real Deal in January that they had also left of their own accord, an assertion denied by Core.) After two months at Core as a senior vice president and associate broker, Ivana Tagliamonte also left Core went back to Halstead Property in December. The decision to leave was mutual between Tagliamonte and Core, Core said, but Tagliamonte said she left of her own accord. (note: correction appended)

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Kirk to join the management team at Elliman,” Core CEO Shaun Osher said in a statement about Rundhaug’s departure. “We spoke a lot about this decision. As a broker myself, I understand the stress it takes on us all. This is an important decision for Kirk and his family. I wish him well and he knows he always has a home at Core.”

In contrast, Osher said last week of Grossman and Matto’s departures: “As a boutique agency who provides the highest level of service in our industry to our agents, we expect a high level of performance. Unfortunately David Grossmann and Veronica Matto did not meet this level and were asked to leave. We wish them well.”

Rundhaug is bringing his team to the brokerage, including Mark Lynch, Charlton Cini, and Paige Neuhauser. He and his team will be working out of Elliman’s flagship office at 575 Madison Avenue, specializing in new developments, according to Elliman.

“Kirk is an industry stand out, and his ability to achieve record sales in this highly competitive market makes him a valued addition to our Elliman team,” said Dottie Herman, president and CEO of Elliman.

Howard Lorber, chairman of the company, added: “Elliman has the platform, reach and contacts that will serve Kirk, his clients, and our company well.”

Before joining Core, Rundhaug was an interior designer with clients in New York, London, and California. He was selected by hotelier Ian Schrager to be director of sales for 50 Gramercy Park, a 23-unit leasehold co-operative linked to the Gramercy Park Hotel. At 40 Bond, a 28-unit condominium designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron he secured sales over $2,500 per square foot.

Rundhaug was not available to further comment on his new role.