LJ Hooker appoints Georg Chmiel as new CEO

LJ Hooker has appointed a new chief executive officer. Georg Chmiel will take over from L. Janusz Hooker, who will take up the role of the group’s deputy chair.

Chmiel was the chief financial officer and general international manager at REA Group Ltd for almost six years before he resigned in 2010 to become chief operating officer at LJ Hooker.

Janusz Hooker, the grandson of the company's founder Leslie Hooker, acquired the business in an $82 million deal in 2009.

“It gives me great pleasure to appoint L. Janusz Hooker to the role of deputy chair of LJ Hooker in recognition of his role in leading the business and setting the foundation of future growth. He will continue to play a vital role in the future success of the LJ Hooker business,” says LJ Hooker chairman Greg Paramor.

“Georg has been a key member of the LJ Hooker executive team for more than two years.

“Together with myself and Janusz, Georg will oversee the next phase of growth for the company.”

Paramor says LJ Hooker’s top sales performers outperformed the market by 14% over the past year.

“We have added 36 new offices and 500 new sales people to our business in 2011, bringing the LJ Hooker network to a total of 690 offices,” says Paramor.