Mark Willis, who served as CEO of Keller Williams from 2005 to 2014, has stepped back into the role effective immediately. He relieves Keller Williams co-Founder and Executive Chairman Gary Keller, who’s been serving as interim CEO since June 2022.

Willis began serving in various leadership roles within the company in 1991 and joined its executive team in 2002 as president. During his nine years as CEO, Keller Williams grew from approximately 25,000 agents to 115,000 agents, according to a press release shared with Business Wire.

In early 2022, Willis was tapped by eXp Realty for an executive position, however, a Texas judge issued an order preventing Willis from doing business with American or Canadian brokerages viewed as a direct competitors to Keller Williams

In July of this year, Willis rejoined the Keller Williams executive team as a strategic consultant and remains a current franchisee.

“With so much uncertainty surrounding the real estate industry today, it’s never been more important to have a leader who thoroughly knows us and understands business at the highest level,” Keller said in a statement. “That’s Mark Willis.”

Willis takes over the CEO position just weeks after the company, along with the National Association of REALTORS® and HomeServices of America, was found liable of conspiring to inflate commissions. The defendants were ordered to pay damages totaling $1.78 billion.

As the fight over agent commissions continues play out on the national stage, Willis said, “We face headwinds and change, and that’s nothing new.”