Real estate giant hires tech director

SARASOTA — Sarasota-based real estate firm Michael Saunders & Co. hired Charles Willits as its new director of information technology. 

Willits will direct the company's IT department supporting 24 branch offices, over 650 agents and nearly 200 staff members, according to a press release.

His team includes eight people who handle support, application development, network infrastructure and managing vendor relationships with technology partners. 

He has 25 years of experience in real estate and technology. Previously he was director of IT at Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville. 

Michael Saunders, founder and CEO of Michael Saunders and Co., says of Willits in a statement, “His passion for data, security and innovation will serve us well as the dizzying pace of technology continues to reshape how real estate is bought, sold and marketed to consumers in the digital age.”

Michael Saunders & Co.'s sales topped $2.75 billion in 2017, according to a press release.