Cushman & Wakefield announced that Chicago retail leasing veteran Gregory Kirsch has joined the firm as executive managing director and Midwest retail leader, effective February 19th. Kirsch joins from Newmark Knight Frank.
“The retail sector has been undergoing a marked evolution for some years now. Greg truly understands how the market has shifted and why the relationships between a tenant and landlord and between a brand and its customers are more important than ever,” said Vicki Noonan, Chicago managing principal at Cushman & Wakefield. “We felt it was crucial to bring in a retail leader that could help define a client’s specific retail requirements while acknowledging that special relationship. We put our full confidence in Greg and are excited about the dynamic his leadership will bring to our Chicago office.”
Kirsch is Cushman & Wakefield’s latest addition to its national retail services platform and will be based in Chicago, focusing on the firm’s Midwest retail tenant and landlord clients. He will work closely with the property management and capital markets teams in Chicago and across the region, supporting the company’s broader retail platform. His mandate includes growing Cushman & Wakefield’s retail services offering across the Midwest, including recruitment of a retail team to be based in Chicago.
“We are focused on building a team of top talent across the Americas that can provide best-in-class services to our retail clients,” said Katie Mahon, senior managing director, Americas retail strategy and operations at Cushman & Wakefield. “Greg is a thoughtful, effective leader and his fresh perspective and experience will be a significant complement to our existing teams around the country. He will no doubt hit the ground running and we all look forward to working with him.”
Kirsch has represented retail occupiers around the country, including top brands such as Starbucks, FedEx Office, Under Armour, Vineyard Vines, It’Sugar, Vans, The North Face & Design Within Reach. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois and has several notable achievements under his belt, including Chicago Association of Realtors’ Retail Broker of the Year in 2009, a Chain Store Age Chicago Business Rising Star in 2015 and top producing retail broker in Newmark Knight Frank’s Chicago office from 2008 to 2019.
