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A corporate management specialist has been recruited to a strategic position in Raine & Horne’s Queensland operations.
Ken Baker takes the reins as network manager in the state, bringing his experience from across real estate and banking to the role.
Previously Harcourts’ corporate growth manager in Queensland, Mr Baker started his career out in Ballarat, where he launched an independent office before transitioning the business to a franchise group. Following that, he moved out of real estate, gaining valuable experience in modernising working practices in a different sector.
“After selling out of my real estate office in 2009, I was recruited by Westpac as a branch manager in Ballarat. Westpac wanted a high-profile local business owner to head up a branch, and the bank approached me,” Mr Baker explained.
“The bank was running a campaign to bring back the branch manager as an important part of the community, and the Westpac CEO at the time, Gail Kelly, was heavily involved with the campaign.
“Westpac changed the way it did its banking and introduced the café style banking that is now commonplace, and Gail Kelly was a fantastic person to learn from, while she seemed to like the fact I came from real estate into banking.”
In 2012 he was lured back to the industry where his career began, moving into corporate roles with a number of other networks.
Steve Worrad, general manager of Raine & Horne Queensland, first worked with Mr Baker several years ago and had a hand in identifying him as a contender for the position.
Mr Worrad noted they had “worked extremely well together previously” and said he was looking forward to collaborating on the brand’s growth.
The chance to unite with a former colleague was a drawcard for Mr Baker, as was the brand’s ethos.
“I believe that with its genuine culture of family ownership with the Raines at the helm appeals, especially as others claim to be family-run businesses but just aren’t.
“But it’s not just culture that sets Raine & Horne apart, but also our extensive and industry-leading toolkit of products and services,” he said.
The hands-on nature of the job was a further incentive for joining the team.
“I love working in a corporate role as you can make a difference in the careers of so many people,” Mr Baker said.
“Having been a business owner gives me instant credibility as I have sat in our principal’s chairs, especially as I advanced my start-up from zero property managements to 550 and built an equivalent turnover of a gross commission income (GCI) of $10 million today.”
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