Markman Leaves Grubb for C&W

NEW YORK CITY-One of the city’s top brokers has left his longtime home at Grubb & Ellis to accept an executive director position with Cushman & Wakefield. Glenn Markman signed his new contract yesterday and plans to assume his new role shortly after July 4.

“There are very few opportunities to hire senior people of this caliber,” C&W president of US operations Bruce Mosler tells GlobeSt.com. “Glenn sees this as an opportunity to put his clients on our global platform and have them blossom.”

Markman, who will work out of C&W’s Midtown office, has been Grubb’s top New York City revenue producer since 1995 and was the firm’s number-three broker in the nation last year. Having spent his entire 16-year career at Grubb, Markman ends his term there in the position of executive managing director.

“I didn’t really expect to leave here,” Markman tells GlobeSt.com. “Sometimes you wake up and something feels right. I felt comfortable with the people at C&W and I just felt that now is the time to do it.”

While Markman says the recent turbulence at G&E “opened my eyes in ways that they hadn’t been opened before, “he adds, “I have nothing but respect for Grubb & Ellis. There are a lot of great people in the company and a lot of tremendous talent.”

G&E president and CEO Barry Barovick says Markman is leaving the firm with no hard feelings on either side. “Glenn is a terrific guy,” Barovick tells GlobeSt.com. “It’s a loss for us but we wish him well. The company vision is not right for everyone who is out there, although it’s clearly the right vision. It’s good for C&W and he’s a good broker.”

Mosler notes, “The fact that his client base is international makes it a particularly good match. His maturity and his approach to business make him a terrific fit with Cushman & Wakefield.”

Markman’s accomplishments include working with the New York city Housing Authority on its 463,000-sf lease at 90 Church St., and representing the NBA in a $60-million lease deal for its 35,000-sf store at 666 Fifth Ave. Real Estate Forum has recognized Markman as one of the nation’s top tenant reps. Real Estate Forum is published by GlobeSt.com’s parent company, Real Estate Media Inc.