Our Executive Leadership Team

We have an extraordinary array of talented team members working for LJ Hooker.

Our Executive Leadership Team boasts a diverse background having been part of a range of blue chip companies both external to the real estate industry and within, such as  Colliers International, McGrath and Elders. Together, this experienced and focused group of individuals make a dynamic and unique team without parallel.

 

Simon Heathcote - Chief Financial Officer

Simon joined the executive team as Group Finance Director in March 2019 and became the CFO in May 2019. He is responsible for the finance and compliance functions of the corporate, residential and commercial real estate lines of the group. 

Prior to joining LJ Hooker, Simon was the CFO of a private commercial lender. He was Group financial Controller with Guardian Early Learning Group (childcare), and Financial Controller with Archer Capital, a private equity firm. Prior to this, Simon was an audit Senior Manager with Ernst & Young. 

Simon brings a wealth of experience to LJ Hooker in all facets of financial management practice and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Governance Institute of Australia.
 

Ruth Trewhella - Chief Operating Manager

Ruth joined the executive team in January 2018 as Business Improvement Director and became COO in January 2019.  She is responsible for the overarching operations of the core Franchise business including marketing, customer support, training and events and awards and recognition.
 
Prior to joining LJ Hooker, Ruth was Head of Customer Success at e-commerce brand RedBalloon.  She was Group Manager of True Local (part of the Telstra group) and a number of other digital businesses within the Sensis group of companies. 
 
Ruth is an innovative leader who brings a wealth of experience in transforming customer experience and business performance. She has extensive experience leading and developing high performing multi discipline teams, strategy execution, operational excellence, digital innovation and delivering complex programs of work.
 

Christine Mikhael - Chief Performance Officer

With over 25 years of real estate experience, Christine is renowned for her knowledge and expertise on what it takes to create and manage a top office. Having owned her own agency for over 15 years, on many occasions Christine personally generated $3 million GCI pa. Christine intricately understands what it takes to operate a high performing business and knows what is needed to actively create efficient and engaging ways to recruit and retain top agents. As Chief Performance Officer of the LJ Hooker Group, Christine is responsible for our strategies that underpin office and agent productivity and market share growth for the LJ Hooker Group across Australia.
 

Stephen Mutton - Head of Network Performance 

Stephen Mutton started his career with success in real estate and he hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal since.   
First starting as a 20yo a sales agent in Coffs Harbour, within 18 months he became his group’s number 1 Auction Lister/Seller and the third top salesperson in NSW. 

With these, and many other accolades under his belt, his energetic and enthusiastic approach saw him tapped on the should to join the QLD Corporate team as their State Trainer. 

This role saw his real estate career take off at turbo speed and within 12 months Steve and his wife opened the first of their six real estate offices on the Gold Coast.

From 1998 to 2011 Steve grew his team to over 130 salespeople and his business ranked in Top 5 internationally.

In 2017, Steve joined LJ Hooker to grow the brand in QLD and Northern NSW. In the first 12 months alone he added 11 new offices to its extensive network.

Steve’s passion is seeing offices grow, but not just for growths sake. Having owned and operated real estate agencies he understands the successes and challenges for business owners and their teams and how to guide them through these times. 

In addition to being LJ Hooker’s QLD State Director, Steve now leads a national team to drive network growth across the country.