Chief Growth Officer Nicole Oge, Chief Executive Officer Richard Jordan and New Development President Andrew Wachtfogel will “give up ownership” of the company after negotiations with Oren and Tal Alexander failed.
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Side-backed company Official has endured a tumultuous few months following rape accusations against co-founders Oren and Tal Alexander, with the company’s other three co-founders having relinquished ownership and left the company. business insider reported.
Chief growth officer Nicole Oge, CEO Richard Jordan and New Development President Andrew Wachtfogel will “relinquish ownership,” effectively handing over the operations of the two-year-old brokerage to the Alexander brothers, they told the news outlet.
Oren and Tarr are currently unlicensed in their primary markets of Florida and New York. They deny the allegations against them, which are detailed in multiple lawsuits filed by women who accuse the brothers of rape and sexual assault dating back to at least 2010.
Oge, Jordan and Wachtfogel said in a joint statement emailed to Inman that the fallout from the rape allegations against Oren and Tal has severely hampered business.
“Since we first became aware of the allegations against Official’s other co-founders in early June, we have worked hard to support our team and protect the company on behalf of its employees, agents and customers,” the statement read. “However, this The impact of this news on our business is severe. We work with the best people in the industry, but these events have significantly limited the ability of our agents and development teams to operate and transact with customers, and we expect to face insurmountable problems in the future. challenge.
The three departures will be effective on August 15, 2024. The announcement comes after weeks of negotiations between the Alexander brothers and other co-owners over Official’s ownership stake, according to reports.
In a separate statement to Inman, Ogg said she, Jordan and Wachterfogel poured their “heart and soul” into the company, which was on a path to success until the brothers and their ‘s other brother, Aaron Alexander, was accused of rape and was exposed.
“We have had a huge impact in a short period of time and are very proud of the work we have done together,” Ogg said. “We are extremely disappointed that Tal and Oren did not inform us of these lawsuits and threats against our company, and our talented team is now unable to continue on an official path. These allegations are disturbing to all of us, but importantly , they clearly started a conversation for women at large around the culture of the brokerage industry.
The news appears to conflict with previous reports that Oren and Tarr were in contact with officials after they both publicly said they would relinquish their roles as co-founders due to the lawsuit against them. distance.
However, their lawyer James Cinque told business insider otherwise. He told the news outlet that the brothers “never said they were leaving” and that “they wanted to continue running the business.”
“Officials are completing ownership and management changes to ensure continued excellent service to their markets,” Cinque said in a statement. “Tal and Oren Alexander wish the three members who are leaving to pursue new opportunities good luck and Success. The Alexander brothers are excited about their new lineup and will announce details soon.
Representatives for Tal Alexander did not immediately respond to Inman’s request for comment.
A spokesperson for Side told Inman that Tal and Oren’s real estate licenses are “not active on the Side platform.” They added that the company “would not have entered into a partnership with them had we known about these serious allegations.”
In June, within a week of the lawsuit against Oren and his twin brother Aaron coming to light, Ogg said in a statement that Oren was “immediately isolated from the company” and that the “process to remove him from ownership is well underway.” middle.
After Tarr was later accused of rape through a lawsuit filed in June, he said he would seek “a leave of absence” from officials.
Last month, West Coast official founding broker Tyrone McKillen and his eight-person team, Plus Real Estate, left the company.
At least five agents in New York and Florida also left the firm last week.
Oren has now been named in four rape and sexual assault lawsuits filed against him, while Tarr is accused of rape in one lawsuit. Before the brothers co-founded Official, they worked as agents at Douglas Elliman for about 10 years.
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