Budge Huskey steps back as Premier Sotheby’s CEO, but retirement isn’t in the plan

After more than four decades in real estate leadership, Budge Huskey is ready to make a change. But the longtime CEO of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty wants to make one thing clear: He isn’t retiring.Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Huskey will transition to executive chairman of the Naples, Florida-based brokerage, handing over the CEO role to Jackie Thiel, who has served as president for just over two years. Huskey will also continue as vice chairman of Peerage Realty Partners and Peerage Group Sotheby’s International Realty.In an exclusive interview with HousingWire, Huskey said the leadership change has been in the works for two years, and that the timing was his decision. “I just concluded that I felt the company was in a really strong position right now, where as far as our overall performance, I felt that Jackie was ready to assume the CEO role. And it was time for me, quite frankly, to take a step back,” Huskey said. After more than 40 years of working 60-plus-hour weeks, Huskey said he was ready to slow down, but he isn’t stepping away from the company he has led for a decade. In his new role, Huskey will focus on strategic initiatives, growth opportunities, industry relati...