Caitlin Chagan Returns to Elliman’s New Dev Marketing Arm In New York

After less than a year with a development startup, Caitlin Chagan is returning to Douglas Elliman.

The former development marketing executive, who left the firm after a decade-long stint, is joining the brokerage once again, this time as the president of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing in New York.

“This is really a homecoming for me,” said Chagan, whose previous roles at Elliman included managing its Brooklyn portfolio and the Eklund-Gomes Team’s portfolio. “I left, I explored, and I came back more convinced than ever.”

Chagan exited Elliman in July to serve as a co-founder and managing partner of Redeavor, a development advisory firm launched early last year by executives from the Agency, Official Partners, ST Residential and Formida Capital. While at Redeavor, Chagan was tasked with heading up the firm’s expansion to the New York market.

The firm does not appear to have any active projects in the region, according to its website. Among its projects are the Ritz Carlton Residences and Hotel in Houston, Texas, the Pendry Residences in Nashville, The Ainsley in West Hollywood and other developments in California and Las Vegas.

“I left [Elliman] back in July really to pursue a vision, and that vision was to create the best in class services to my clients,” Chagan said. She added that after a few months with Redeavor, she realized, “the only place that I could have that vision truly realized is back here.”

Mike Leipart, a Redeavor co-founder and managing partner, said in a statement that he and his partners were “big fans” of Chagan and “appreciate her contributions” to the team.

“This is an incredible opportunity, and we wish her continued success as she returns to Douglas Elliman,” Leipart said.

Back at Elliman, Chagan will oversee all New York operations for the firm’s new development arm, including jumping in on existing projects as well as working on the pre-development of upcoming developments in the city, Long Island, the Hamptons and Westchester. Her position as president is a new one for the company, which is run on a national scale by longtime Elliman executive, Susan de França.

Elliman CEO Michael Liebowitz billed Chagan’s move as a “big victory” for the firm, which has lost several of its top agents and leaders following the abrupt retirement of Elliman’s longtime leader, Howard Lorber, in October 2024. Liebowitz took the helm shortly after with the promise of ushering in a “new era” for the firm.

Liebowitz said that establishing Chagan as a leader in the New York region joins his efforts to double down on the company’s development sector, which he described as Elliman’s “marquee crown jewel.” He added that the firm plans to invest in its New York operations specifically.
“Developers are demanding, and we want to meet that demand,” Liebowitz said. “I’m bullish on New York. New development in New York is going to be much stronger than people believe.”