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Formerly of Upside Realty, James Kirkland joins the large independent agency that operates across Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
Mr Kirkland, himself a licensed real estate agent in four states, brings a nuanced understanding of market variability across the nation to the role.
He also counts himself as a third-generation agent, with both his father and grandfather proud real estate professionals. But his family history doesn’t keep Mr Kirkland stuck in the past; he’s been a champion of innovation in the sector throughout his professional career.
Mr Kirkland reportedly helped develop NurtureCloud, an AI-driven, end-to-end proptech software system now majority owned by the White family, of the Ray White real estate network.
And as director of sales and operations at Upside Realty, a direct-model agency, he oversaw a team of 60 agents operating across four states. Mr Kirkland moves on from the firm while it embarks on a substantial restructuring, having entered voluntary administration in July 2023.
According to Mr Kirkland, Little Real Estate represented an opportunity to drive innovation in a company that is ripe for tech enhancement. The firm employs over 250 staff and manages a portfolio exceeding 15,000 properties.
“The sales and marketing division is teeming with potential, working closely with Australia’s largest number of properties under management and the most property managers in the country,” Mr Kirkland noted.
“We’re on a trajectory to redefine what digital marketing and automation can achieve in real estate, raising the bar in service quality and ultimately results for our clients. Here at LRE, we’re not just following the future; we’re actively creating it,” he said.
According to the seasoned real estate professional, the move felt like “coming full circle in a career that’s been rich in opportunities to innovate”.
“The culture here aligns perfectly with my belief in combining high values and performance, offering a rich landscape to break new ground and drive exceptional outcomes,” he added.
Little Real Estate’s CEO, Andy Gooden, said that Mr Kirkland already made a difference in the firm in the short time he’s been on board.
“He has made a material impact since joining us and we couldn’t be more delighted that he chose to join our team,” Mr Gooden said.
According to the CEO, the feeling of a good fit was mutual.
“James and I have crossed paths commercially on a number of occasions over the last five years and what was immediately obvious was that our values absolutely align.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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