Photo by Ryan Donnell, Builder
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Toll Brothers.)
By Mollie Carmichael | Builder
The latest episode of Zonda’s Inspirational Leadership with the Best in Home Building podcast features an interview with Doug Yearley, chairman and CEO of Toll Brothers.
Yearley joined Toll Brothers in 1990 and has held various management positions over the last three decades. He has been an officer with Toll Brothers since 1994, holding the position of vice president, senior vice president, regional president, and executive vice president. In 2010, Yearley became CEO of the company.
Initially joining Toll Brothers to specialize in land acquisitions and project management, Yearley learned the home building business from the ground up thanks to his connection with the late and well-loved Bob Toll, who spent every Monday night teaching him the ins and outs of the business.
Here is the transcript from the episode:
Carmichael: Could you tell us a little bit about your role as CEO with Toll Brothers?
Yearley: I’ve been at the company for 33 years now. I’ve been CEO for 13 years, and the job is wild. I travel a bit; I need to get out and see all the divisions, and we build in 26 states. I know the importance of getting out there and cheerleading the divisions. I spend a lot of time on strategy, there’s not a land deal of any size that I don’t approve. That’s the lawyer in me, I am a lawyer by background. So, I just like to have that control. Bob Toll gave me the marketing department when I was 35, and I will never give that up because our brand is so important. I don’t have a marketing background, but I feel like if I can control land decisions and if I can oversee the marketing of our brand, I’m going to be able to sleep at night.
