Keller Williams Expands to Croatia

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 25, 2026--

Keller Williams Realty, LLC (KW), the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count, is expanding across Europe. As momentum continues, KW has awarded a new master franchise in Croatia.

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“We’re delighted to welcome KW® Croatia to our global community,” said William E. Soteroff, president of Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), the international division of KW. “In every market, success follows models, and with now more than 10,000 agents across Europe, we’re helping entrepreneurs turn opportunity into predictable, scalable growth.”

Led by Regional Operating Principal Boris Batelic, the KW® franchise in Croatia is currently initializing operations. In Q2’ 2026, KW® Croatia is expected to open its first market center.

An experienced transformation leader, Batelic previously served as the CEO of Croatia-based Remax Centar Nekretnina, a real estate firm with approximately 100 agents, and as the CEO of Optima Telekom, where he successfully navigated the company through a pre-bankruptcy environment.

"The Croatian real estate market needs structural change, innovation, and a model built around agents and entrepreneurs,” said Batelic. “When I found KW, I found the right answer at the right time."

“Real estate is not really about properties, it's about people,” said Batelic. “My vision for KW® Croatia is to build a place where entrepreneurs grow their business and agents have the platform they deserve, both locally and globally."

Batelic has over 25 years of leadership experience across real estate, telecommunications, and technology, consistently driving revenue growth, cutting costs, and raising the bar on customer experience.

Croatia marks the 21st KW master franchise in Europe. The brand's other 20 regions include the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Poland, Greece, Czech Republic, Romania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Germany, Scotland, North Macedonia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

“At my first KW Family Reunion in Atlanta, I was deeply moved by thousands of people who were genuinely excited about our start in Croatia, and offered to help without being asked," said Batelic. “That was such a strong display of culture, and I am honored to be part of the KW family.”

As of February 28, KWW has more than 16,700 agents across 257 market centers (outside of the U.S. and Canada) and more than 60 regions.

KWW is exploring further expansion opportunities across Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia.

Core criteria for new licensees begin with a qualified leadership team grounded in the Keller Williams culture; the company also strives for stability in the government, banking, and judicial systems and a higher maturity level in the real estate market.

Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW regions include Albania; Argentina; Aruba; Bahamas; Belize; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bonaire; Cayman Islands; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Delhi NCR, Egypt, India; Dominican Republic; Dubai, UAE; El Salvador; France; Germany; Greece; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hungary; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Mexico; Monaco; Mongolia; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Panama; Paraguay; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Qatar; Romania; São Paulo, Brazil; Saudi Arabia; Scotland; Serbia; Singapore; Sint Maarten; Slovenia; Southern Africa; Spain; Suriname; Thailand; Turkiye; Turks and Caicos; United Kingdom; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; and Vietnam.

About Keller Williams

Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams Realty, LLC is the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count with a global network of offices and affiliated agents. The franchise is No. 1 in units and sales volume in the U.S.

Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven, and education-based culture that rewards affiliated agents. For more information, visit kwri.kw.com.

Led by Regional Operating Principal Boris Batelic, the KW franchise in Croatia is currently initializing operations.

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took the pole for Sunday’s Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, just two weeks after he led qualifying and won the first race of his career at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The 19-year-old Antonelli's qualifying time Saturday was 1 minute, 28.778 seconds on the 5.8-kilometer (3.6-mile) Suzuka circuit in central Japan.

Teammate George Russell will start alongside him. Russell won in Australia in the first race of the season and also took the pole, the start of Mercedes' early dominance in 2026.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who has yet to start a race this season, will start alongside Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in the second row, and Lando Norris of McLaren starts on row three next to Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari.

“It was a good one. It was a clean one,” Antonelli said. “I felt very good in the car. I’m really happy with the session and now we focus on tomorrow.”

For the second straight race it was the young Italian upstaging the older British driver.

“He did a great job again,” the 28-year-old Russell said.

Antonelli's quickest lap was three-tenths of a second faster than Russell, which is a big gap in Formula 1.

“I think overall it was a very strong session," Antonelli said. “But with the (new) regulations it's very easy to gain or lose three-tenths. It’s really easy to gain or lose time."

Formula 1 cars this season are powered 50-50 by battery power and combustion-engine power, and the chassis are slightly smaller and more nimble. This had made overtaking much easier in the first two races.

But Suzuka is an old-school circuit and is narrower with fewer straights, so passing will still be difficult.

“It can be good racing but I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as China and Melbourne," Antonelli said. “The track is quite a bit tighter and you don’t have as many straights where you can overtake. It’s not going to be easy, that’s why it’s crucial to have a good start.”

Russell struggled throughout the session, lucky to pull into the second spot. Early in the session he was much deeper in the pack.

“The car just did not feel the same as it did the whole weekend," Russell said.

Two weeks ago in China, neither McLaren car took part in the race because of electrical problems. And in Australia, Piastri sat out after crashing his car before the race even started. So being on the second row is a win for the Australian.

“This weekend we’ve looked good,” Piastri said. "We’ve executed well. We clearly don't have the pace or the grip to match Mercedes still, but we are getting closer.”

Four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull will start 11th after struggling and complaining on his radio about his car.

“I think there is something wrong with the car, mate. It was completely undrivable,” he said.

Saturday’s qualifying was run on a sunny spring day with the same predicted for Sunday.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia smiles ahead of for the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain talks with team members ahead of the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy walks on the paddock after the third practice session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy gestures ahead of the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy waves after the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)