Anderson, who was recruited by a number of regional and national firms, tells GlobeSt.com that he was offered other opportunities, but chose the locally based Sperry Van Ness because he was impressed with the momentum of the company, its people, the technology Sperry is employing and the opportunity to help build the organization in Florida, one of the country's fastest-growing markets. He will be based in New Smyrna Beach, FL, and will begin his new post on April 1 after the expiration of a non-compete agreement with Coldwell Banker.

Anderson's post is a newly created position at Sperry Van Ness, giving him responsibilities for both Florida and the Carolinas, where Sperry Van Ness has 57 brokers. The region has been managed by Jim Brady, who will be returning to brokerage, a move the company says Brady has wanted to make for a while.

Both Anderson and David Frosh, president of Sperry Van Ness, cite the current and future growth of Florida as reasons for wanting to establish a more senior level of management there. Frosh tells GlobeSt.com that, in addition to managing the Florida region, Anderson will work directly with him on setting the strategy and expansion plans.

"We were looking for a senior manager in the Southeast because Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country," Frosh says. "We weren't necessarily looking for someone as senior as Jerry, but when top talent of his caliber becomes available, we're going to make it fit in." Sperry has ambitious plans for the Florida region, Frosh notes, and expects to expand its presence there considerably in the next few years.

Anderson tells GlobeSt.com that he spoke with "a number of regional firms and also with some national firms and an international network," in the time since he left Coldwell Banker. He explains his choice: "I was very impressed with the people at Sperry Van Ness, as well as with the technology and tools they're using, and for the opportunity to participate in the strategy and setting the course for the company's growth."

Anderson left Coldwell Banker Commercial abruptly in April 2003 in what GlobeSt.com reported as a disagreement over "fundamental philosophical issues" with parent company Cendant Corp. He told GlobeSt.com at the time that "Cendant is a wonderful company that has a lot of great brands, but when you really look at the real estate division, it's a residential group." During Anderson's tenure at Coldwell Banker Commercial, he oversaw the resurgence of the company's commercial brand, for which gross revenues increased from $20 million in 1997 to nearly $300 million in 2002.

In joining Sperry Van Ness, Anderson chooses a firm that has already grown considerably since it was founded in 1987 by Rand Sperry and Mark Van Ness, who serve as co-CEOs. The firm today provides advisory, brokerage, consultation, asset management, property management, leasing and financial services to clients in more than 70 markets across the country.