The former CEO quietly left the company upon completion of the merger with Compass, a representative confirmed to Inman. Former Anywhere CTO Rudy Wolfs also left the company as a result of the deal.
Inman has learned that Ryan Schneider, former CEO, president and director of Anywhere Real Estate, is leaving the company upon the completion of its multibillion-dollar acquisition by Compass.
Schneider’s departure was not announced publicly by Compass International Holdings (which acquired Anywhere in the transaction), but his LinkedIn profile was recently updated to indicate that his tenure with the company ends in January 2026. Compass International Holdings confirmed to Inman that Mr. Schneider will be retiring upon completion of the merger.
Similarly, Anywhere’s chief technology officer, Rudy Wolfs, left the company after the deal closed, the company confirmed.
Compass International Holdings declined to comment further on the departure, but a representative said an executive update would be released at an unspecified future date.
The company has not said what kind of severance benefits Mr. Schneider will receive, but an SEC filing dated November 14, 2025 states that Mr. Schneider or any other executive officer of Anywhere, including Anywhere’s senior vice president and chief treasurer, It provides that if a person (with the exception of Director and Controller Tim Gustafson) is terminated by the company “without cause” or “for cause” within two years of doing business with Compass, they will be entitled to severance pay including: Payments and benefits below:
An amount equal to twice the sum of the executive’s annual base salary and annual incentive bonus to Schneider will be paid on the executive’s first regular paycheck 60 days after termination. A pro-rated annual incentive award based on performance will be paid at the same time by Anywhere. Other officers will also receive a pro-rated annual incentive award based on their “target opportunity” and will be paid in a lump sum with their first regular paycheck after retirement. 60 days after termination Up to 18 months of medical and dental benefits Up to 12 months of outplacement services (not to exceed $50,000)
The SEC filing also provided for another “control retirement plan change” for some of the company’s senior employees, including Tim Gustafson. These severance packages include similar benefits that are less generous in duration and monetary value.
The filing also included a table of potential payments to certain Anywhere executive officers in the event of a qualified termination. At the time, Mr. Schneider was estimated to receive a severance package of approximately $17.74 million in cash, stock compensation of approximately $49.09 million, and medical and dental benefits worth approximately $87,955.
Given that Compass International Holdings declined to comment further on Mr. Schneider’s departure, it is unclear whether the conditions for Mr. Schneider to receive all such estimated payments have been met or whether the amounts differ from those set forth in the SEC filings.
Mr. Schneider joined Anywhere, then known as Realogy, in late 2017 after nearly 14 years in executive-level roles at Capital One.
As Anywhere’s CEO, Mr. Schneider emphasized support for distributors while also slimming down the holding company’s operations through divestitures of non-core businesses, restructuring of some businesses, and a focus on technology.
Mr. Schneider also was credited with leading Anywhere to become one of the first major real estate companies to settle the industry’s Mr. Sitzer and Mehl Commission lawsuits, agreeing to settle claims against the company for $83.5 million in the fall of 2023 before they went to trial. Schneider said during an appearance on Inman Connect New York in January 2024 that the settlement was made to protect the company’s agents and brokers, and that he believes it is a better value proposition than other real estate companies.
“Once you have a clear vision of what’s right, you need to get there. Do you want to spend your time and money on litigation or do you want to spend it on agents and franchisees?” Schneider said in 2024.
Anywhere was the parent company of Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Sotheby’s International Realty, ERA, and Corcoran. Compass said the brands will continue to maintain their distinct identities following the merger.
In its $1.6 billion deal with Compass, which closed in January, the holding company brought about $2.6 billion in debt to Compass, net of cash. Compass previously acquired @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in January 2025.
Some industry leaders have criticized the Compass-Anywhere deal because it would mean Compass-related companies would hold significant market share in the United States. According to Real Trends, Compass is the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage by sales value, with sales exceeding $231 billion as of 2024.
Meanwhile, Anywhere ranks second with 2024 sales of $183.81 billion. After the merger, the number of agents at both companies has reached a significant number: Compass has approximately 40,000 agents, while Anywhere has 51,000 agents at its own brokers and an additional 250,000 at franchise stores.
However, other real estate executives including SERHANT. CEO Ryan Serhant argued the move would be beneficial to the real estate community because it would create “a major player in the industry, a professional agent who can lobby with some weight.”
Update: This article has been updated to clarify that confirmation of Mr. Schneider’s resignation was provided by Compass International Holdings. Compass International Holdings acquired Anywhere Real Estate Inc. through a merger agreement in January.
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