Brookfield Properties Leasing Exec Joins JLL’s Bethesda Office
By Keith Loria April 20, 2021 1:47 pm
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Andrew Jones, a 35-year veteran of agency leasing in the Washington, D.C., metro area, has joined JLL (JLL) in its Bethesda, Md., office as a managing director.
Most recently, he served 22 years as vice president of leasing at Brookfield (BN) Properties. During his time there, he worked with JLL on The Yards, a 42-acre development on the Anacostia River waterfront in D.C.
In the new role, Jones will look to grow JLL’s Maryland portfolio post-pandemic. Jones noted that he was interested in joining the firm due to its “level of professionalism and work ethic, reputation in the market and respect from peers.”
“My goals are to maintain and grow the existing landlord agency platform, be a good partner and deliver positive results for our clients,” Jones told Commercial Observer.
In the transition from Brookfield, he will be bringing to JLL the leasing assignment of Brookfield’s Bethesda Crescent, an approximately 300,000 square feet of office and retail in four Downtown Bethesda buildings.
“Andy has been an industry colleague for many years and we are excited to have him join our team,” Bernie McCarthy, JLL’s executive managing director, said. “Aside from the fact that he’s strongly aligned with JLL’s service-oriented values, he brings a wealth of experience to bear combined with big-picture thinking.”
Over his career, Jones has partnered with JLL on numerous transactions, so he was well familiar with the firm.
“I have always been impressed by their knowledge, professionalism and incredibly collaborative business model,” he said. “I’m eager to navigate the evolving market on behalf of JLL’s agency leasing relationships with an impactful, solution-based strategy to create long-lasting value for our clients.”
Looking at the current state of Bethesda’s office market, he sees promising signs ahead.
“The Bethesda market, not unlike the rest of the country, is faced with heightened vacancies, but is quietly awakening with tenants eyeing a return to the office,” he said. “We expect a continued increase in activity and transactions by the fourth quarter, as tenants and landlords establish the next new office environment.”
