Susan M. de Franca Named Head of Douglas Elliman Developments

NEW YORK, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Prudential Douglas Elliman, New York's largest residential brokerage and the fourth largest real estate company in the U.S., is pleased to announce that Susan M. de Franca, former president of Related Sales, the exclusive marketing and sales division of Related, the nation's leading real estate development firms, has been named president and chief executive officer of Douglas Elliman Developments and a senior member of Prudential Douglas Elliman's management team. In her new role, Ms. de Franca will lead a team advising on development planning, design, marketing strategy and sales management to deliver maximum value to some of the country's most exceptional residential properties.

"Susan possesses the highly sought-after, rare ability to think like both a developer and a marketer," said Howard M. Lorber, chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman. "We've brought in a professional who we believe is the number one in the industry for new developments. Susan has a long resume of conceptualizing and implementing groundbreaking marketing strategies, and her track record speaks for itself."

Dottie Herman president and chief executive officer of Prudential Douglas Elliman continued, "Susan is a brilliant leader in the industry as the force behind some of the country's most successful residential and mixed-use properties. We are absolutely thrilled to have her join our team. With this hire, we continue our commitment to bringing the best and brightest talents in the industry to our firm."

Ms. de Franca brings an insider's knowledge of the development process from her time as a vital member of Related's team. During her tenure at Related Sales, Ms. de Franca presided over $3 billion worth of sales within the company's luxury and super-luxury condominium portfolio, with properties located in New York, Boston and Los Angeles. Ms. de Franca led sales and marketing efforts for Related's complete residential portfolio, the most noteworthy of properties including One Central Park, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, New York at Time Warner Center, The Chatham, Superior Ink and The Harrison, which all achieved noteworthy sales figures. She also played a pivotal role in Related's global brand positioning by successfully launching and advising on the company's residential marketing and public relations strategies.

With more than 25 years experience in the high end real estate market, Ms. de Franca offers an unparalleled amount of perspective to creating a timeless residential property. Appointed president of Related Sales in 2004, Ms. De Franca joined Related in 2001 to execute and manage marketing and sales at One Central Park and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, New York.

"It is an honor to be working with such an esteemed team as Prudential Douglas Elliman, with its status as the leading brokerage with the largest market reach," Ms. de Franca said. "Throughout my career I have always respected Prudential Douglas Elliman's innovation and ongoing notable achievements in the industry. I'm looking forward to applying my extensive experience in luxury residential development to the firm's diverse and ever-growing portfolio of prime residential properties."

Prior to Related, Ms. de Franca was executive vice president of development and marketing for Davis & Partners, LLC, where she supervised the firm's portfolio of luxury rentals and condominium properties. Ms. de Franca also previously acted as executive vice president and managing director of The Sunshine Group, Ltd. Her real estate career started at M. J. Raynes Development Corporation where she oversaw the firm's entire residential portfolio including the conversions of the rental properties for the Bing and Bing and MacArthur Foundation portfolios.

She is a member of Association for Real Estate Women.

Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate is New York's largest residential brokerage, with over 60 offices stretching from Manhattan to Montauk, and most recently expanded operations into Westchester.  They have more than 3,800 real estate agents and a network of national and international affiliates. Prudential Douglas Elliman ranked in the top four of all real estate companies in the nation in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and is the number one Prudential affiliate in the network.  The company also controls a portfolio of real estate services, including Manhattan's largest residential property manager, Douglas Elliman Property Management, as well as PDE Title, DE Capital Mortgage and Relocation and Destination Services. For more information on Prudential Douglas Elliman as well as expert commentary on emerging trends in the real estate industry, visit the Prudential Douglas Elliman site at www.elliman.com. 

Considered among New York's most prominent residential sales and marketing firms, Douglas Elliman Developments specializes in delivering maximum value to its clients through comprehensive pre-development planning, innovative marketing and superior sales management. Representing over $9 billion in sales, our extensive market experience allows us to work with the finest developers across the country to deliver a premier selection of residential developments.

SOURCE Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate