Aaron Kirman

Founder, CEO, Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California

After 26 years working for other people’s companies, Kirman decided it was time to build something of his own in 2022. That ended up being the start of his brokerage Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California. 

“I’ve been around the block, and I got to the point where I was a little tired,” he told TRD in a 2024 interview discussing what factored into his decision to start “something new, interesting and different.”  

It’s been a learning curve running his own business, pointing out that doing so is “not for the faint of heart,” when considering margins, liability and what it means to lead. Still, he made good on his goal of running his own business. Today, CIRESC is one of Los Angeles County’s largest brokerages, with Kirman also helming one of the County’s top-producing teams in the Aaron Kirman Group. 

Over two decades working at other firms helped. He was the former executive director of Hilton & Hyland’s architectural division and in 2013 moved on to John Aaroe Group. Three years later it was on to Pacific Union, where he served as president of the luxury estates division up until 2021 when he made the move to Compass. 

Now, as LA’s luxury residential business continues to consolidate among a shrinking pool of brokerages, the competition remains high for Kirman and his peers to continue the momentum. Kirman has meanwhile shown a penchant for going beyond strictly business with outspoken critiques of the Measure ULA property-transfer tax that’s hampering high-end sales.

– Kari Hamanaka