eXp Founder Glenn Sanford Steps Down as AGNT CEO, Leo Pareja Named Successor

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - October 8, 2026

AGNT, Inc., the Nasdaq-listed parent of eXp Realty, has named eXp Realty Chief Executive Officer Leo Pareja as its new CEO, effective October 8. He succeeds founder Glenn Sanford, who started the company in 2009 and will remain chairman of the board.

According to the company's Form 8-K, Sanford confirmed to the board on October 2 that he was recommending Pareja as his successor, and the board appointed him by unanimous written consent on October 6. Sanford stepped down as CEO and from all other employment positions with the company and its subsidiaries when the change took effect. He will receive the standard non-employee director compensation package, although the company said he is not expected to qualify as an independent director. AGNT also said it expects to sign a consulting services agreement with him.

"After nearly two decades leading this company, I believe now is the right time to take the next step in our evolution," Sanford said. "Leo has earned this moment." Board Vice Chairman Randall Miles called the handoff "the product of years of deliberate, thoughtful succession planning by our Board."

Pareja, 44, joined eXp Realty in July 2022 as President of Affiliated Services, became Chief Strategy Officer that November and was named CEO of eXp Realty in April 2024, when he first succeeded Sanford in that role. He led the May 2026 acquisition of the NextHome real estate franchise, which moved the company into franchising. Before joining eXp, he co-founded the real estate technology company Remine, Inc. and served as its CEO until it was sold to MLS Technology Holdings in 2021.

Under a new five-year employment agreement, Pareja's annual base salary rises to 1.8 million dollars. He will also receive a promotional equity grant of a performance-based stock option covering 1,060,814 shares at target, plus 573,588 restricted stock units that vest quarterly over three years. Starting in 2027 he is eligible for annual equity awards, valued at about 4.9 million dollars for that first year.

"My focus now is making sure every agent on our platform has the tools, the technology, and the ownership stake to compete and win in an AI-native market," Pareja said.

The change follows a busy year of restructuring at the Bellingham, Washington, company. Formerly known as eXp World Holdings, it adopted the AGNT ticker in May, formally renamed itself AGNT, Inc. in June and moved its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas. Along with eXp Realty and NextHome, AGNT owns the virtual collaboration platform FrameVR.io and the personal development brand SUCCESS Enterprises.