California’s Real Estate Industry: Leadership Changes and Strategic Expansions

In the dynamic landscape of California’s commercial real estate sector, numerous firms are making significant leadership changes to enhance their market presence. This week, prominent firms like Avison Young, NAI Capital Commercial, and CBRE are reshaping their teams to drive growth and meet evolving industry demands.

Avison Young Appoints John Cashin as Market Leader in Palo Alto

Avison Young has named John Cashin as the market leader for its Palo Alto office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Cashin will steer strategic growth initiatives.
• Active Producer: He will maintain his role as a brokerage producer while overseeing broader operations.

With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, Cashin has been instrumental in Avison Young since 2012, where he contributed to the establishment of the firm’s first Bay Area office in San Francisco.

NAI Capital Commercial Enhances Leadership with Jim Kruse

Jim Kruse has been appointed Executive Managing Director of NAI Capital Commercial’s West Los Angeles office.

• Previous Role: Kruse recently served as Director of Brokerage for the firm’s 13 Southern California offices.
• New Focus: In his expanded capacity, he will continue to drive brokerage operations while enhancing client relations and service delivery across the region.

Rockwood Capital Welcomes Jimmy Yung as Senior Managing Director

Jimmy Yung has joined Rockwood Capital as Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Originations, based in the Los Angeles office.

• Background: Yung previously led Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies’ West Coast commercial real estate lending program for seven years.
• Impact: His experience will bolster Rockwood’s investment strategy and enhance financing capabilities.

Mayer Brown Enhances Real Estate Practices with New Partner

Gabe Steffens has joined Mayer Brown in Los Angeles as a partner in their Real Estate and Real Estate Funds practices.

• Experience: Formerly the global head of legal for Nuveen Real Estate, Steffens brings extensive legal expertise and insight into real estate transactions.

CBRE Announces Multiple Promotions and New Additions

Andy Schmitt Promoted to Managing Director

Andy Schmitt has been promoted to Managing Director and Senior Vice President at CBRE.

• New Role: He will focus on the office sector in the East Bay markets, which includes Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Tri-Valley.

New SVP Jon Azulay Joins CBRE

Jon Azulay has joined CBRE as an SVP in its West Los Angeles office, where he will partner with the team to enhance occupier leasing services.

Anna Kampling Joins Multifamily Investment Sales Team

Anna Kampling has also joined CBRE as a First Vice President, focusing on multifamily investment sales across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

• Achievements: Kampling previously handled over $500 million in sales at Colliers.

Steffen Kammerer Elevated to Executive Managing Director

Steffen Kammerer has been promoted to Executive Managing Director, overseeing CBRE’s offices in Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, and Burlingame.

Kidder Mathews Expands Its San Francisco and Silicon Valley Teams

Andrew Rebennack and Cameron Baird have joined Kidder Mathews as Senior Vice Presidents in San Francisco.

• Rebennack’s Experience: Nearly a decade in brokerage, focusing on acquisition, disposition, and leasing.
• Baird’s Specialty: 20+ years of experience in retail real estate, urban planning, and leasing.

David Cutler has been hired as an SVP in Silicon Valley, specializing in investment sales across various property types.

JLL and Parkview Financial Make Notable Appointments

Nick LiVigne Takes the Helm at JLL Technology Division

Nick LiVigne has joined JLL as Consulting Lead for the Technology Division.

• Objective: To deliver client-focused solutions leveraging his commercial real estate expertise.

Scott Denham Elevated to Managing Director at Parkview Financial

Scott Denham has been appointed Managing Director and Head of Construction at Parkview Financial, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous role at Mack Real Estate Group.

Western Alliance Bank Strengthens Multifamily Housing Team

Charles Jones has been named Senior Director of Multifamily Housing Finance at Western Alliance Bank. His extensive experience in commercial real estate finance positions him to make a significant impact in this role.

Berkadia Bolsters San Diego Investment Sales Team

Berkadia has welcomed John Chu, Ed Rosen, and Tyler Sinks as Managing Directors in its investment sales platform in San Diego, starting June 30.

ExchangeRight Launches Innovative Investment Options

ExchangeRight, a leader in diversified real estate REIT and DST investments, has launched new subclasses for the Essential Income REIT. These subclasses aim to enhance accessibility and maintain tax-efficient income streams for investors.

The recent leadership appointments and strategic expansions across California’s commercial real estate firms reflect a robust market poised for continued growth. For more insights on the California real estate market, visit ConnectCRE.