Committed Business Owner Inducted in to Harcourts Hall of Fame
Well-known and highly respected Harcourts Business Owner, Graham Viall has been inducted into the Harcourts Hall of Fame
which was first launched in 2000 to recognise those who had made a significant contribution to the growth and success of
the Harcourts brand.
Described as a person with incredible commitment to not only his own business, but also to Harcourts and the profession
as a whole, Mr Viall was presented with a framed certificate by Harcourts International Ltd Directors, Mike Green, and
Paul Wright who read the induction speech.
Mr Wright described him as "a person who believes there is no such thing as the 'too hard basket' and who has that rare
ability to take an idea, act on it, and bring a team along to support and implement it with the courage to persevere
until it's a success."
Mr Viall started in real estate sales in Manukau in 1987, joining Harcourts in 1990 to manage the Papakura office. A
person with determination and drive, early on he achieved what few others in the industry had mastered by adding a
rental property management division alongside his successful sales team. Today he is renowned for running "one of
Harcourts' finest rental operations as a passionate advocate of this service".
When Harcourts underwent franchising in 1991, Mr Viall and wife Debra bought the Papakura office as one of Harcourts'
first Auckland owners. Despite the tough business environment in the early 1990s which saw many real estate businesses
paring back, Mr Viall continued to expand and added a lifestyle and rural division. Over the years he has added offices
in Manurewa, Pukekohe, Pakuranga, and Howick.
As well as business excellence, Mr Viall is renowned for his commitment to family and community, receiving a Paul Harris
Fellowship in 2006 from his Rotary club for his charity and education programme work. An annual trip to Tonga combines
fishing with friends with three weeks of helping to rebuild cyclone-devastated villages.
The induction concluded with Paul Wright noting, "For Graham it's never just been about his own business, but his desire
to see Harcourts achieve its potential. Graham, we thank you for your loyalty and tenacity which has meant so much to
the success and growth of Harcourts. Without your entrepreneurial approach and vision in so many areas, Harcourts
wouldn't be where we are today."
Graham Viall said, "Receiving the recognition was a very humbling experience indeed", and reinforced that he felt he was
receiving it "on behalf of the many great people I work with daily".
ENDS