Long & Foster CEO, brokerage president resign 

Jeff Detwiler has resigned as president and CEO of The Long & Foster Companies, along with Larry "Boomer" Foster, president of Long & Foster Real Estate — and nephew of the company's founder.

The company confirmed on Monday that Patrick Bain has taken over as president and CEO, while Jackie Thiel has stepped into the role of president, Long & Foster Real Estate. Both are longtime employees of the company, hailed for their industry expertise and ability to deliver positive experiences for agents as well as customers.

Detwiler spent nearly 14 years with Long & Foster, which operates in the District of Columbia and eight eastern states, from South Carolina to New Jersey, with around 10,000 real estate agents.

Long & Foster was acquired by HomeServices of America, Inc. in 2017, a year before the 50th anniversary of Long & Foster's founding. The acquisition, like Detwiler's departure, seemed to take people by surprise. "Times change," Detwiler said, reflecting in 2018 on the decision to sell the company. "You always have to be prepared to change, and we made a different decision, went in a different direction."

Detwiler, who has nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry, also serves on a number of boards, including MoxiWorks.

Boomer Foster, who has held several roles with Long & Foster over 17 years, "will continue to affiliate his real estate license with Long & Foster," the company said.

Foster moved into the role of president in 2014. "I always wanted to be part of the family business," he said at the time. However, his uncle, Wesley Foster, Jr., "made me no promises." Boomer Foster started with the company as a real estate agent and worked his way into a role leading the brokerage's regional divisions. He also guided the company in new technology partnerships. 

Before working at Long & Foster, Boomer Foster spent nearly a decade as a trial attorney in South Carolina.