Kenny Parcell has resigned as president of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) after a recent, bombshell report by the New York Times into allegations of sexual harassment within the organization. He was roughly halfway through his year-long term as president. 

Parcell’s leadership first came into question publicly in June when Janelle Brevard, who served as chief storyteller for NAR, filed a lawsuit against her former employer. She alleged that she was harassed by Parcell after ending a relationship with him. At that point, Parcell had served on NAR’s executive board for about 15 years and Brevard said she was ousted after filing an official complaint about him; she was terminated in September 2022. 

At the time of her lawsuit, NAR rejected Brevard’s claims. The suit was withdrawn July 6.

However, on Aug. 26, the New York Times published a lengthy investigation into the culture at NAR. According to the accounts of 29 former employees, “even after years of complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination and retribution by Mr. Parcell, little changed.”

The accounts also detailed further allegations against Parcell. Among them: The president sticking his hands down his pants at a 2018 conference, texting a picture of his crotch to two employees and regularly requesting hugs at meetings. 

Now, two days after the publication of that exposé, Parcell has resigned via a letter to NAR’s board of directors. His letter also called the various accusations “categorically false” and a “character assassination.”

Idaho-based agent and board member Tracy Kasper is now president of the association, effective immediately. Kasper had been named as president-elect late last year and was originally set to take over the position in 2024. 

“I will be stepping into my presidency early,” Kasper said in a statement shared by NAR.

“First, let me say, I’m incredibly sorry for what’s led us here,” she went on. “We recognize there is lots of concern, anger and disappointment, and we want to acknowledge the people who have come forward and shared their stories … This is a really hard time for our association. But I know this is an opportunity to really listen and grow together.”