Cushman & Wakefield Bolsters Executive Leadership Bench For Northwest And Southwest Expansion

Cushman & Wakefield is continuing to expand its operations in the Northwest and Southwest regions of the U.S., starting with the appointment of Tom McDonnell as head of office agency leasing as well as executive regional director of the Northwest region, and Robert Thornburgh, SIOR, CCIM, FRICS, as Southwest regional president. 

The extensive industry and leadership experience McDonnell and Thornburgh bring to these key Western markets will support the firm’s growth initiatives and client service strategies, said Victoria Malkin, Cushman & Wakefield president of the Americas markets. 

The new hires will report to Malkin and collaborate with local managing principals and market leaders. 

“Our firm is rapidly expanding across the Northwest and Southwest regions, leveraging strong market fundamentals and strategic leadership appointments to deliver innovative real estate solutions that drive exceptional client outcomes,” Malkin said.

Cushman & Wakefield already has a significant presence across Western markets. The company’s West region institutional multifamily group has seen more than $10.6B of transaction activity in the past 24 months, while the firm’s Southwest multifamily advisory group has sold more than 75,000 units with a value of more than $6B out of its Phoenix office. The firm has 39 offices in the western U.S. with more than 6,000 employees.  

McDonnell joins Cushman & Wakefield with more than 20 years of industry experience, including his most recent role as national leasing director at Shorenstein. There, he managed a 20M SF portfolio across 18 major U.S. markets. He has closed more than 600 lease transactions, exceeding $1B. 

McDonnell was a natural choice to run the Northwest region, thanks to his strong ties to the area and expertise in its markets, Malkin said. He previously worked at Cushman & Wakefield in San Francisco, specializing in tenant and landlord representation. In his new role, he will oversee operations across Northern California, Oregon and Washington, driving strategic business development and enhancing client success. 

McDonnell will also focus on talent acquisition and retention, which Malkin said is a top priority for Cushman & Wakefield. 

“At Cushman & Wakefield, we are committed to recruiting the best and brightest talent,” Malkin said in a statement. “Tom’s extensive background in leasing and asset management, coupled with his ability to cultivate strong client relationships, will be instrumental in expanding our presence and delivering exceptional value across the Northwest.”

McDonnell will also take on the position of head of Americas office agency leasing, spearheading key business development initiatives and implementing industry best practices to elevate the firm's leasing platform.

While McDonell is leading the Northwest expansion, Thornburgh, the former CEO of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, will head operations in the Southwest. 

SIOR consists of more than 4,000 office and industrial brokers in 50 countries. As the former CEO of SIOR in charge of expanding membership, boosting engagement and raising the organization’s profile in the industry, Thornburgh understands what it takes to build a successful brand presence, Malkin said. 

Based in Los Angeles, Thornburgh will oversee Cushman & Wakefield’s Southwest operations throughout Southern California, Nevada, Phoenix, Colorado, Utah and Idaho.

“We are thrilled to welcome Robert to Cushman & Wakefield as he takes on this important leadership role,” Malkin said in a statement. “His significant experience in brokerage operations and deep understanding of industry fundamentals, combined with his service-oriented approach, will be instrumental in driving our business forward in the Southwest and beyond.”

Thornburgh will focus on strategic growth initiatives, client service excellence and talent development, with the overall goal of enhancing the firm’s market position in the region.

“I look forward to this incredible opportunity to lead and further strengthen our deep client relationships throughout the Southwest region, helping investors and occupiers source opportunities in both established and emerging markets,” Thornburgh said in a statement. “I am also excited to work more closely and collaborate with Cushman & Wakefield’s highly respected roster of professionals in the Southwest and beyond.”

Malkin said Cushman & Wakefield is committed to the highest-quality service as it continues its market expansion, with McDonnell and Thornburgh leading the charge. 

“With McDonnell and Thornburgh stepping into their new roles, we are focused on strengthening client relationships, driving business growth and cementing our position as a dominant force in these key western U.S. markets,” Malkin said. 

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Cushman & Wakefield. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.