The most recent CEO of the Cape Fear Realtors is no longer with the organization, according to a statement released Tuesday. 

The statement came from CFR via Sinclair Public Affairs, a Raleigh communications firm that lists crisis management as one of its offerings.

"The Cape Fear Realtors' Executive Committee released Taylor Oldroyd as CEO of the association, effective January 20, 2019," according to the statement emailed Tuesday afternoon.  "After careful consideration, the leadership believes it is in the best interest of the association to pursue a different course in management, and has already begun the search for a new executive.

"Effective January 22, 2019, the executive committee has named Jo Anna Edwards to serve as interim CEO."

Oldroyd, whose hiring was announced in 2017, had no comment about the statement Tuesday. Oldroyd, previously CEO of the State of Montana Association of Realtors, was hired to replace Jerry Panz, who was retiring after a 32-year career.
 
Tuesday's statement went on to quote Sherri Pridgen, president of CFR, as saying, “Our executive team is united in its effort to find a new executive officer, and has named a search committee to find a new CEO. Jo Anna Edwards has been named as interim CEO until a replacement is selected. Jo Anna has been with the association for 27 years. 

"We are confident that her leadership will serve the best interests of the association and its members as we move forward. We continue our commitment to our members and property owners across the region and look forward to the opportunities presented us by this change.”

Edwards is listed as executive vice president of Realtors Commercial Alliance of Southeastern North Carolina on Cape Fear Realtors' website.

Of the news about Oldroyd's release, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage president Tim Milam said Tuesday, "I thought he did a great job for us, and I enjoyed working with him. I'm sorry to see him go."

The news comes after a recent announcement that CFR had rejoined Business Alliance for a Sound Economy (BASE), a business advocacy group for which the local Realtors' association, previously called Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, was one of the original founding members. The Realtors split from BASE in 2006.