Board of Realtors CEO will step down

Ongoing dispute in 13,000-member trade group led to departure.

Paul Hilgers, CEO of the Austin Board of Realtors since 2013, will step down from the 13,000-member trade association effective Dec. 31, the board announced.

The news comes amid an ongoing dispute between the organization and some of its members. A group of real estate agents, led by Austin Board of Realtors members Cord Shiflet, Brian Talley and Jonathan Boatwright, say the board lacks transparency and that its directors have been putting their own interests over that of its membership.

In a written statement, board officials said that Hilgers, who has been CEO of the Austin Board of Realtors since 2013, helped to raise the visibility and influence of the organization at the local, state and national levels.

“I have been proud to serve as the CEO of the Austin Board of Realtors and will always respect the membership and the work of the volunteer board of directors,” Hilgers said in the statement. “I am most proud of the staff of ABoR who are all professionals dedicated to serving our members. The Austin Board of Realtors is poised to continue to excel in the future and be a leading organization in the real estate industry.”

The organization will work toward a transition “that ensures no disruption to the day-to-day service of its 13,000+ members and prepares the association