Handler R.E. Org. names Farley EVP, COO

Handler Real Estate Organization, a boutique, full-service real estate company, has made a key strategic hire by naming 30-year real estate veteran Richard Farley executive vice president and chief operating officer of its brokerage division, Handler Real Estate Services. Reporting to Handler president and CEO Scott Galin, Farley will oversee the firm's boutique, but growing brokerage division. His responsibilities include the recruitment and hiring of brokers, strategic planning and implementation, and mentoring and developing the firm's younger professionals. Farley, who previously held senior positions with Thor Equities, RFR Realty, S.L. Green, and ABS Partners, will also be an active deal-maker for Handler, working on some of the firm's larger lease assignments. In addition he will oversee leasing of some of Handler's in-house assets, including the firm's headquarters building at 561 Seventh Ave. "Richard is an intelligent, well-respected real estate professional who brings with him instant credibility and a long history of success both in terms of managing and growing departments and transacting deals," Galin said. "Richard is particularly skilled at recruiting talent, and then teaching, mentoring, and training those brokers. He will be instrumental in helping us bring our brokerage division to the next level. We are excited to have him join the team." "Handler is a strong, stable, well-run real estate organization that is poised for growth," Farley said. "Scott Galin and Scott Handler have done a tremendous job laying the foundation for how this firm operates. Handler has a long-standing platform that will be enticing for brokers looking to join a boutique, sophisticated firm that does business the right way. Handler is a great fit for me. I'm looking forward to being a part of its ongoing success." Prior to joining Handler, Farley was vice president/office leasing for Thor Equities, where he effectively coordinated and created Thor's in-house office leasing program. Prior to Thor, Farley directed the leasing program at ABS Partners where he led the leasing and marketing efforts of a 40-broker department and a 4 million s/f portfolio. Farley also previously held the position of executive vice president/director of leasing at RFR Realty, where he was responsible for more than 6 million square feet of real estate. During his 13-year tenure with RFR he completed successful leasing campaigns for prestigious trophy properties such as the Lever House and the Seagram's Building, where he negotiated a 165,000-square-foot lease with Wachovia, generating $16 million in revenue. He also orchestrated the redevelopment and repositioning of 160 Fifth Avenue, leasing 90 percent of the building within 18 months.