JLL Promotes O’Brien to CEO, Americas

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

Greg O’Brien

“You and we have agreed that you will become the Chief Executive Officer of the Americas operating business,” so commences the January 16, 2014 letter from Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. to Gregory O’Brien, confirming O’Brien’s ascension from his position of CEO, Markets Solutions at the global commercial real estate services firm, to that of CEO, Americas.

The appointment comes three months after Lauralee Martin left the CEO, Americas role after one year to become CEO of healthcare REIT HCP Inc. JLL president & CEO Colin Dyer had since assumed Martin’s duties until handing them to O’Brien last week.

O’Brien is more than a little familiar with the chief executive title. He served as CEO of The Staubach Co. before its merger with JLL in 2008, after which point he became CEO, Brokerage at JLL and helped increase revenue to more than $730 million in 2012. And later, as CEO, Markets Solutions, he spearheaded the businesses that yielded in excess of 60 percent of the Americas revenue.

“Drawing on his deep experience and impressive results as a leader of multiple businesses and in his direct work with clients, he will be able to drive productive growth throughout the Americas by continuing to implement the long-term strategies set in place over the last year,” Dyer said in a prepared statement

O’Brien’s promotion is multi-faceted. In addition to taking on the Americas CEO job, he moves from member to head of JLL’s Americas Executive Committee and joins the Global Executive Board as well.

A rather smooth transition has been orchestrated with O’Brien’s move up the ladder. His obligations as Markets Solutions CEO will be handled by John Gates, former president of Real Estate Services, Americas, who becomes the new CEO, Markets.

“I’m optimistic that the leadership team we have in place will seize every opportunity to accelerate growth in 2014 and the future,” O’Brien said in a prepared statement. “They will be working with the people throughout our organization who are united by the common values of teamwork, integrity and excellence in client service.”