Caitlin Chagan is returning to Douglas Elliman as president of the brokerage’s new development marketing division in New York, less than a year after leaving to help launch a national startup. The move brings back one of the city’s prominent new-development marketers and provides Elliman with senior leadership amid a competitive market for developer projects.
Return to Elliman
Chagan said as she accepted the new title of president of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing in New York, according to The Real Deal. Her return follows a brief stint at Redeavor, the development advisory startup she helped to found last year. The Real Deal reports that the position is a first for the company and that Chagan will be tasked with steering Elliman's New York development marketing strategy.
What She'll Oversee
In the new role, Chagan will oversee the firm's New York new-development portfolio, covering active projects and pre-development work across the city, Long Island, the Hamptons and Westchester. That footprint lines up with the broader reach of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, which handles new-development projects in New York and other major markets, as per Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.
Why It Matters
Elliman CEO Michael Liebowitz called Chagan's return a "big victory" and framed the appointment as part of a broader push to double down on the firm's development business. Liebowitz added that "developers are demanding, and we want to meet that demand," signaling that the company intends to invest in its New York operations to capture upcoming opportunities. For developers and brokers sizing up partners for complicated launches, having a senior, locally based point person like Chagan can be a deciding factor.
Chagan's Recent Stint And Redeavor's Footprint
Chagan left Elliman in July 2025 to co-found Redeavor and help build that firm's new-development platform, as reported by Commercial Observer. Redeavor's public portfolio lists projects including The Ritz-Carlton Residences & Hotel Houston, Pendry Residences Nashville and The Ainsley in West Hollywood, and its portfolio page shows those developments but no active New York listings at this time. Her move back to Elliman highlights the ongoing tug-of-war among large brokerages, boutique consultancies and developer-focused platforms for top sales and marketing talent.
What Comes Next
Chagan’s return comes amid broader leadership changes at Elliman, following the retirement of long-time CEO Howard Lorber and other executive shifts last year. Developers and agent teams will be watching to see whether the firm’s refreshed leadership translates into new assignments and faster sales. In the short term, recruitment and project pitching cycles are expected to tighten as Elliman seeks to increase market share.
