In a move designed to secure the future of his team and leverage the power of a global network, McKillop is rebranding to Harcourts and formally handing over the sales leadership reins to his long-time protégés.
McKillop’s journey began in 1991 as a fresh-faced 21-year-old with EJ Doherty Real Estate. Quickly rising through the ranks to become a standout performer, he opened the 49th Barry Plant office in 2003.
It was there that he began to cultivate the talent that would eventually lead his business.
“I’ve always believed in spotting potential in unexpected places,” McKillop says.
“I hired Rick O’Halloran as my very first salesperson and trained him from the ground up. Then there’s Reece Beckley. In 2005, Reece was my personal trainer. He pushed me so hard during a session that I offered him a job on the spot—mostly because I admired his drive, but partly because I needed a break from the push-ups! I trained him, and the rest is history.”
This transition is born from McKillop’s observation of the industry. “I’ve watched too many Real Estate Directors struggle with succession planning, ultimately losing brilliant people because they failed to provide a pathway for growth,” he explains.
“I didn’t want that for my team.”
Under the new structure, Rick O’Halloran, Reece Beckley, and Petar Krnjeta will take charge of Sales at Harcourts Werribee.
McKillop will step back from the day-to-day sales grind to manage assets under a separate Franchise Agreement, positioning himself as an anchor and mentor for the growing team.
The decision to rebrand was not taken lightly. After spending his entire career with one brand, McKillop sought a partnership that aligned with his values.
“Change isn’t easy, especially when you’ve been with one brand for your whole working life,” McKillop admits.
“But after sitting down with Harcourts Australia CEO Adrian Knowles and Adam Fiteni, CEO Harcourts Victoria, I felt that Harcourts really resonated with where we are going. The support of their larger network is exactly what we need to push forward.”
McKillop remains fully committed to the agency, offering his 30+ years of wisdom to both the sales and rental departments at Harcourts Werribee, ensuring the next generation has the guidance they need to succeed.
