Cushman & Wakefield COO Joseph Harbert Leaves For Colliers International
By Daniel Edward Rosen May 18, 2012 6:32 pm
reprintsJoseph Harbert, the chief operating officer for the New York Metro region for Cushman & Wakefield (CWK), has left the firm for a new job as president of the eastern region for Colliers (CIGI) International.
The move, which was first reported by Crain’s New York, is a sign that Colliers was focused on shoring up its presence in the New York City market.
“We hired Joe because he is a proven leader in the New York market,” Dylan Taylor, CEO of the U.S. division of Colliers, told Crain’s. “He has a tremendous track record of taking brokerages to leading positions in the New York market,” he added.
In a statement released this afternoon, Cushman & Wakefield CEO of the Americas Jim Underhill said:
“We wish Joe well and are happy for him. At the same time, we have ambitious plans to grow our New York operation aggressively as we have elsewhere around the country. We have been and will continue to look for both leaders as well as professionals who can take what is already a well established and top-performing firm to the next level.”
Mr. Harbert’s move to Colliers is the latest high profile departure from Cushman & Wakefield. Last month, longtime Cushman & Wakefield veteran Arthur Mirante left to become a principal and Tri-State President for Canadian upstart Avison Young.
Mr. Harbert did not respond to a phone call or text requesting comment.
A person close to him said that both Mr. Mirante and Mr. Harbert’s departures came at a time when Cushman & Wakefield seemed to be going younger with its new hires.
“They’re [Cushman & Wakefield] have been trying to re-grow and stock up some younger people and [have] a younger dynamic again,” said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Mr. Harbert was recently seen delivering the results of Cushman & Wakefield’s
first quarter 2012 office market report during a media breakfast in April.
drosen@observer.com
