The National Association of REALTORS® is bringing on two communications professionals with messaging experience in the nation’s capital, effective May 31. 

Bennett Richardson, the former general manager and global head of public affairs at Semafor, was named senior vice president of marketing and communications, and Raffi Williams, a former vice president at the Managed Funds Association, is NAR’s new vice president of communications.  

Richardson has spent almost 20 years in technology, policy and journalism. At Semafor, a politics and technology news website, he led the Washington, D.C., bureau and spearheaded global strategic initiatives. Before that, he was director of policy marketing at Google and president of protocol and executive director of POLITICO Europe. 

Williams’ background is in public affairs, media strategy and financial communications. He led media relations at the Managed Funds Association and previously held senior communications roles at Edelman Smithfield, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

“Bennett and Raffi bring a powerful mix of experience, vision and strategic insight that will sharpen NAR’s voice and strengthen our communications at a pivotal time for the real estate industry,” NAR CEO Nykia Wright said in a press release. “We are investing in world-class talent to ensure our members, policymakers and the public clearly understand who we are, what we stand for and the critical role Realtors play in helping people across America achieve the dream of homeownership.”