Kennedy Wilson's Big Expansion

Kennedy Wilson just expanded in a big way, absorbing seven San Antonio members into its fold.

We snapped Kennedy Wilson co-managing directors Butch West and newbie Ernest Brown (new only to KW—both gents have more than 30 years under their belts). They tell us the influx of talent will help KW significantly grow its Central and South Texas presence, as well as expand to Houston soon. It’s leaping from two to nine brokers in San Antonio initially, with the goal to have 14 by year’s end. (The Austin office has seven and is looking to hire four this year—that way it can field a full soccer team.) Together with its new addition, KW in San Antonio is full spectrum with property management, accounting, project management, sales and leasing brokerage, and capital markets (including investing with a client and build-to-suit development).

Regional senior managing director Steve Pyhrr hopped into the shot. Steve tells us KW has 39 projects totaling 4M SF and 7,000 multifamily and self-storage units in Texas. Ernest and Butch have extra reason to be thrilled; they’ve been close friends for 20 years. They bonded in a bar when one overheard the other talking about tickler chains—both were raised on shrimp boats—and they keep their love for the water alive through shared vacations to the Bahamas and South Texas fishing trips. Other NGKF-ers joining KW: Rick Stagers, George Harcourt, Barbara Crane, Cynthia Ellison, Clint Hennessey, and Jorge Rodriquez.