The National Association of Realtors (NAR) officially named Nykia Wright its permanent Chief Executive Officer, effective today. Wright has served in the interim CEO role since November 2023.
“I am thrilled Nykia is staying on board to lead us through this time of transformation,” said 2024 NAR President Kevin Sears, broker-associate of Sears Real Estate/Lamacchia Realty in Springfield, Mass. “She has been instrumental in leading us up to this point, and her unwavering commitment to our members makes her the ideal steward for guiding our association through the evolving real estate landscape."
During her initial tenure, Wright led NAR through broker commission negotiations in early 2024 and resolved claims from home sellers. She is also guiding the implementation of the Culture Transformation Commission to foster inclusivity and meet the evolving needs of members.
Under Wright's leadership, NAR is focusing on its core mission of member service, deliberate communication, and agility. Her immediate priorities include guiding the implementation of settlement changes and prioritizing ongoing education, training, and compliance for consumers and agents.
“I am honored to have earned the confidence and trust [of] the Leadership Team to guide this organization at such a critical point. I am committed to ensuring our association remains a powerful and effective voice for the industry and to fulfilling our goal to bring the privilege of homeownership to more Americans,” Wright said. “I am clear-eyed about our past and present, and I am hyper-focused on building trust with NAR’s many stakeholders so that we can be successful in ensuring we are bringing the best of NAR to each and every one of our members.”
Wright brings a breadth of executive leadership and strategic advisory experience to NAR. Previously, as CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times, she led the newspaper through a digital transformation and a merger with WBEZ (Chicago Public Media), which created one of the largest nonprofit local newsrooms in the country.
Wright began her career in the financial services industry and, prior to leading the Sun-Times, was a strategy and business transformation consultant who advised Fortune 500 companies and top-tier universities on operational, financial, and performance improvement projects.
She is also the co-founder of SonicMESSENGER, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup helping democratize audience engagement and measurement by leveraging smart audio.
Wright serves on the board of the Better Government Association, and she is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at her alma mater, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
