Former Coldwell Banker Canada president John Bearden has joined Realogy to “assist with key growth opportunities in major markets,” the company says.

Bearden, most recently president and CEO of GMAC Home Services Corporation, “will play a key role in driving domestic growth in major markets across all of Realogy’s brands,” says the company in a news release. GMAC Home Services was acquired by Toronto-based Brookfield Residential Property Services in September 2008. Prior to leading GMAC for eight years, Bearden served as president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Affiliates of Canada, and before that, as president of Coldwell Banker Professionals, a franchise affiliate serving the Denver and Nashville markets.

Realogy’s residential real estate brands include Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker Commercial, ERA and Sotheby’s International Realty.

Realogy also named Phillip Hugh as executive vice-president of franchise sales. Hugh spent seven years in key franchise sales and development roles with Cendant Corporation, where he rose to senior vice-president and was responsible for the development of all new-construction hotels, under eight different brands, throughout the United States and Canada.