Forty years after it was first established in Brisbane, the Professionals real estate group has just appointed its first full time CEO for Australia and New Zealand. Shane Kempton, who is currently a regional CEO of Professionals in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, has been appointed the group's inaugural CEO. There are nearly 300 member-owned Professionals offices located throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Kempton, who was previously in the military and worked with the SAS prior to entering the construction and real estate sectors, will provide central leadership and be responsible for executing the collective vision, mission and objectives of the Professionals group. He plans to immediately implement a number of new marketing initiatives throughout Australia and New Zealand, and to expand the number of Professionals offices by promoting the advantages of its "uniquely attractive business structure."

"As a member owned group, we are very different to the franchise model because all revenue is invested back into member services, essentially marketing, training and technology," said Kempton. "Our ability to offer service options to Professionals members is another point of difference, and ensures we stay flexible in the highly evolving real estate profession."

Ian Cornell, Group Chairman of Professionals, said Kempton has a proven track record in leadership both as a CEO of Professionals and also in previous CEO positions within the real estate profession. “Apart from his outstanding leadership and discipline skills, Shane will bring to the new position of Group CEO a tremendous level of self-motivation and determination that will bring our group collectively to an new level in the Australasian real estate industry,” said Cornell.