Newmark Grubb Knight Frank has hired Geoffrey M. Kasselman as an executive managing director in Chicago to lead the firm’s national industrial practice. The 26-year industry veteran and co-founder of commercial real estate advisory firm Op2mize will enhance NGKF’s industrial brokerage capabilities across North America and accelerate its expansion to meet evolving client needs.
“Geoff’s systematic approach to real estate goes beyond traditional bricks and mortar, by identifying and implementing customized client-centric solutions that improve operating efficiencies and reduce related expenses,” said Michael Sheinkop, executive vice president, regional managing director. “NGKF’s clients and professionals alike will benefit from his dynamic ‘total cost’ approach and other progressive efforts in the industrial sector.”
Since 2004, Kasselman served as president and CEO of Op2mize, where he provided comprehensive transaction and advisory services together with best practices in sustainability and technology. Previously, he founded and directed Studley’s Industrial Services Group as senior managing director, and also spent 10 years at Insignia/FC&S, rising to the position of managing director and vice president. His career includes more than 1,000 transactions valued at more than $1 billion, working with firms such as PepsiAmericas, Marriott Distribution Services, DHL, Cardinal Health, Charles Schwab, UPS Properties, IDI, CenterPoint Properties, Prologis and Liberty Property Trust, among others.
“I take great pride in helping companies unlock hidden value and drive enterprise performance across their portfolios,” Kasselman said. “NGKF’s robust platform provides the ideal infrastructure and expertise from which to deliver a complete package of services including advanced strategies in industrial real estate. At the same time, we share a deep mutual respect for the entrepreneurial nature of the brokerage business, and the opportunity to work for a global, full-service firm that shares my passion for unconditional client advocacy and collaboration was extremely appealing.”
“One of many NGKF competitive differentiators is the discipline to integrate brokerage with corporate services, in support of each client’s business objectives from a fiscal, operational and organizational perspective,” said NGKF Global Corporate Services Chairman Michael Ippolito. “The ability to execute in an ever-changing global economy, has led us to win many new corporate assignments in the industrial space. Geoff’s wealth of knowledge and direct experience across the industrial spectrum will lend to our winning more prized engagements like Cummins Inc. He understands the intricacies of our platform and the value proposition we offer our clients.”
Kasselman earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies from the University of Michigan, and is a published author and a nationally recognized speaker on an array of topics that relate to the intersection of commercial real estate, sustainability and technology.
