Cresa Appoints New CEO
Previously a senior partner with EY-Parthenon, this executive brings more than two decades of consulting experience.
Cresa, a Chicago-based commercial real estate advisory firm, selected Ray Anderson as its new CEO on Tuesday. He is succeeding former CEO Tod Lickerman, who remains on Cresa’s board of directors. The leadership change is effective immediately.
Anderson has more than 20 years of experience as a consultant. Most recently, he was a senior partner in EY-Parthenon’s value creation group. Prior to that, Anderson led Huron Consulting’s Business Performance Improvement Group, where he worked for almost a decade.
“I specialize in helping companies navigate growth journeys,” Anderson told Commercial Property Executive. “This is an incredible opportunity to build on an extremely strong culture and foundation and take this company to the next level for the benefit of our clients.”
Anderson received a B.S. degree from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business as well as a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. Additionally, he is a CPA and a member of the Illinois Bar.
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The search for a new CEO began in July 2025 and Cresa’s board anticipated the process to take up to two years. At the start of 2026, in addition to appointing a new CEO, Cresa promoted Tricia Trester to president of global portfolio solutions and Mark Wanic to president of project management.
Continued growth for Cresa
The national office vacancy rate stood at 18.4 percent, according to a recent Yardi Matrix report. Coworking and flex office spaces increased to 2.2 percent of total office inventory. As the sector continues to shift and vacancy rates stabilize in this next real estate cycle, Cresa is focused on its expansion.
In recent years, the company has been focusing on its expansion. For example, in May 2025 Cresa acquired Vogel Advisors in Detroit, Mich. In October, the company purchased Fischer, an occupier advisory firm in Dallas, adding 110 employees. Other notable acquisitions from the last two years include Pacific Program Management, NorthStar, as well as Fritsche Anderson Realty Partners and Axis Tenant Advisors in Houston.
In this next chapter, “We will continue to build upon Cresa’s already strong occupier-focused platform, creating scale across our North American footprint through strategic M&A and recruiting, in addition to significant organic growth initiative,” Anderson said.
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