Stephen Mutton, General Manager of Network at LJ Hooker, commended both Frank Newton and Mario Bonomi on their achievements.
The Announcement:
Adelaide real estate stalwart Mario Bonomi has received the highest honour at LJ Hooker’s international awards gala held in Cairns this week.
Mr Bonomi, joint principal of LJ Hooker’s Adelaide Metro and Commercial offices, was bestowed the Sir Leslie Hooker award, named in honour of the company’s eponymous founder and legend of Australian real estate.
In addition to jointly managing the commercial and residential agencies – which incorporates the brand’s St Peters, Adelaide City, Walkerville and Glynde offices – Mr Bonomi has been an influential member of the nationwide network.
Over a distinguished career, Mr Bonomi has:
- Been a past president of the LJ Hooker Franchise Council as well as a member of its Admiral Advisory Group, representing the interests of business owners.
- Received ‘Lifetime Elite’ status within the Group for his expertise in commercial property management.
- Been inducted into the Real Estate Institute of South Australia’s Hall of Fame, LJ Hooker Hall of Fame and also awarded the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s Commercial Property Practitioner of the Year title.
Most recently, Mr Bonomi has been mentoring LJ Hooker Commercial Adelaide’s junior sales and leasing specialists, imparting decades of industry-recognised knowledge in negotiation and strategies for clients.
Additionally, another long-time LJ Hooker ambassador, WA’s Frank Newton, was inducted into LJ Hooker’s Hall of Fame at the international awards in Cairns.
Mr Newton has been the Principal of LJ Hooker City Residential in Perth since 1994, opening the agency alongside his wife Dot.
Mr Newton is a former winner of the Sir Leslie Hooker Award (2010), a previous LJ Hooker WA Business Owner of the Year and is a Life Member Admiral for LJ Hooker.
LJ Hooker General Manager of Network, Stephen Mutton, congratulated both Mr Bonomi and Mr Newton on the accolades.
“Sir Leslie Hooker created our iconic brand in 1928,” said Mr Mutton.
“Since then, generations of sellers, buyers, investors and tenants have turned to LJ Hooker for its commitment to customer service and delivering results.
“Mario embodies these values and is a true representative of the LJ Hooker brand.”
Mr Bonomi joined LJ Hooker in 1988 as Principal of LJ Hooker St Peters alongside one of his longstanding business partners, Rino Pancione.
The ambitious men in their early 20s,were later joined by their other business partner Claude Buccella and have gone on to develop residential and commercial real estate agencies which are leaders in the SA market.
The trio’s professionalism in managing the assets of clients was also recognised at the annual international gala, with the combined Adelaide Metro offices being named LJ Hooker’s World Champion Property Investment Management Office.
Mr Mutton said Mr Bonomi was one of the rare real estate professionals who could simultaneously support the needs of his clients as well as his team.
“With his experience in residential real estate, commercial sales, leasing and property management, Mario delivers bespoke solutions promptly and to a premium level,” said Mr Mutton.
“Whether he’s engaged by a private company to divest their city office, assisting a syndicate to lease a warehouse or helping a husband and wife find a restaurant space for their business dream, he has the experience and connections to deliver unmatched results.
“Over 34 years, Mario has looked after his clients’ entire property portfolios – from selling their family homes to leasing their commercial assets.
“At the same time, he always makes himself available to his younger team members, investing his time in them so they become excellent representatives for their clients and the brand.”
Accepting the award, Mr Bonomi said: “I did not expect to win this award but I’m very honoured and humbled, because I hold in high esteem those who have received it before me.
“I’ve seen LJ Hooker develop and change with the needs of the market for more than three decades, and I’ve been proud to be a part of it.
“I’m at a stage in my career where I’m now doing intergenerational deals: helping the children of the clients who first came to me – and have stayed with me – in the late 80s and early 90s.
“As we move toward LJ Hooker celebrating its centenary, I think the vision that LJ Hooker Group’s CEO, Christine Mikhael, has laid out is one which will keep us at the forefront of real estate.
“LJ Hooker really is the best and has tremendous leadership in place.
“The hours can be long when you’re committed to customer outcomes, and I’d like to thank my wife and my business partners, Rino Pancione and Claude Buccella, for being part of the journey and letting me do what I love.”
Mr Mutton also commended Mr Newton for his induction into LJ Hooker’s Hall of Fame.
“Frank is one of the most astute business operators our Group has ever seen. He has an uncanny ability to provide the support and structures that help real estate specialists thrive, with their customers being the ultimate beneficiaries of his dedication.”
Source: LJ Hooker
