Fredrik Eklund is a Managing Director working with Prudential Douglas Elliman’s senior management team, which focuses on international sales, new developments and re-sales throughout Manhattan.
In 2004, his first year in the business, Eklund was nominated as Rookie of the Year by the Real Estate Board of New York, and today, is one of the youngest Managing Directors in the city. Widely regarded as the preeminent broker of his generation, Eklund is often spotted showing apartments to celebrities such as John Legend, Hilary Swank, Justin Timberlake, Sophia Coppola, Jessica Alba, Paul Rudd, Rachel McAdams, Ben Stiller and Brooke Shields.
Eklund is also the well-known mastermind behind Eklund Stockholm New York (ESNY) – Scandinavia’s most high-end residential real estate brokerage firm. Founded in 2009, ESNY already boasts more listings priced over $1 million than any other company in the Scandinavia. Constantly on the look-out for ways to grow, Eklund’s 4,000-square-foot corner retail office in central Stockholm has 35 employees, and he will soon open a second office in Stockholm and another, in London, in spring 2012.
Highly respected for his expertise in Manhattan’s real estate, Eklund has frequently graced the pages of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, New York Post and New York Observer.
Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Eklund studied at the Stockholm School of Economics, but never finished. Instead, at the age of 23, he joined forces with his father Klas Eklund, as well as former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt to create an Internet company called Humany. After supervising over 45 employees – and being the youngest in his own company - for two years, Eklund went on to work for SEB, a global investment bank, at their offices in Stockholm, London, Singapore and Tokyo, before crossing the pond to New York City.
Now, Eklund is an active member of the Real Estate Board of New York. A firm believer in giving back, he is also involved in several charities, like ‘My Big Day’ with the Princess of Sweden, Madeleine, as well as ‘Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children.’
Moreover, Eklund even made it to the front page of The New York Times’ Style section in 2010:
“His success in the United States has made Mr. Eklund, a member of a prominent Swedish family, with ties to prime ministers, the royal family, even the legendary director Ingmar Bergman, somewhat of a minor celebrity back in his native Stockholm, and the subject of glowing profiles in the Swedish press. But it’s more than just his ability to close million-dollar deals that has brought him that fame.”
With a trademark affability and charm, and a keen sense of his clients’ needs, Eklund has overseen more than $1.25 billion in residential sales over the last eight years, setting record sales in 28 buildings in Manhattan last year alone.
His impressive portfolio features new development projects such as, the Onyx Chelsea (52 units), the Emory (15 units), William Beaver House (318 units), the Cammeyer at 650 Sixth Avenue (67 units), 471 Washington Street (12 units), Trump Soho (391 units), 111 Mercer (4 units), and 374 Broome (9 units).
“My unique philosophy in marketing has truly come a long way and joining Prudential Douglas Elliman will allow me to continue to advance in the world of real estate not just in Manhattan but overseas,” noted Eklund.
In addition, the author of Bananflugornas Herre – a top ten bestselling novel in Sweden – will be the star of a brand new Bravo show, Million Dollar Listing New York. Viewers can look forward to Eklund in up to four seasons of the reality TV series, which will air in spring 2012 and is now already wrapped.
A familiar face at events across the city, Eklund is a resident of Manhattan, and counts among his clients glitterati like John Legend, Daniel Craig and the Olsen twins.
Though building Northern Europe’s first truly international real estate brokerage firm, Eklund makes sure to regularly contribute to causes that he considers vital – all while being impeccably dressed. The New York Daily News has even tagged him the “best dressed man” in the Big Apple!
Currently Eklund is busy closing deals to sell 391 units in downtown Manhattan’s crown jewel, the Trump Soho. His company in Sweden is also responsible for the most expensive apartment listed in Sweden – a 5,500-square-foot seven-bedroom penthouse on Stockholm’s waterfront.