Stellar MLS’s new CEO wants to put the industry in fast-forward

For Shayne Fairley, taking over as CEO of Stellar MLS in March wasn’t just about stepping into a new role — it was about accelerating the pace of an industry that’s long been known for moving slowly. Fairley, who spent nearly two decades at the MLS, including eight years as chief operations officer, succeeded Merri Jo Cowen, a 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence who led the organization for 17 years. Now six months into the job, Fairley is focused on faster tech adoption, maintaining the culture he helped build and rolling out new AI tools that give agents time back in their day. He sat down with HousingWire to discuss the transition, differences between genuine artificial intelligence (AI) value and hype, resilience of Florida’s housing market and how the lawsuit settlements have actually made agents more professional. Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Jonathan Delozier: You took over as CEO earlier this year after spending a good amount of time in other roles at Stellar MLS. How’s that going so far? Shayne Fairley: The transition has gone really well, and that’s a testament to all of the planning that we put into the transition itself. We actua...