CBRE Taps Leaders in Americas Region

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

Cal Frese, CBRE

CBRE Group Inc. has looked no further than its own backyard to fill a handful of key positions. The commercial real estate services firm headlined a series of promotions by pushing Jim Reid up the ladder from president of the U.S. Eastern Division to the position of chief operating officer, the Americas.

Reid is certainly well-equipped for his new job. He has served as president of the Eastern Division since 2002, overseeing all markets and business lines within the area. His experience also includes service in two executive positions in the firm’s EMEA Division between 1998 and 2002. He’s been building his solid foundation at CBRE since 1993, when he joined the firm as senior vice president and regional manager for investment properties for the northeastern U.S.

CBRE also kept it in the family for a handful of other leadership changes, giving the title of president to three of its own industry experts. Michael Caffey, executive managing director, Texas and Oklahoma, moved up to the position of president of the firm’s Texas and Oklahoma division. Chris Connelly has gone from executive managing director, Chicago region, to president of the Midwest division. And Mary Jo Eaton, who had served as executive managing director, Florida, expands her geographic domain across the southern border as she becomes president of CBRE’s Florida and Latin America divisions.

“These well-deserved promotions will assist us in focusing our leadership talents on driving business results,” Cal Frese, CBRE CEO, the Americas, said in a prepared statement.

CBRE’s latest appointments come one month after the company announced two other major promotions. Daniel Queenan became COO, CBRE Global Investments, after serving as CEO, Asia Pacific. And Ritson Ferguson, CEO and co-chief investment officer of CBRE Clarion Securities, added to his responsibilities by stepping into the newly created position of global CIO.