Michael Brown appointed Managing Director of Avison Young's Halifax office

Regional expert will lead growth of Maritime service offering and day-to-day operations

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, announced today the strategic hiring of regional specialist Michael Brown as Managing Director of the company's Halifax office.

Effective immediately, Brown will oversee Avison Young's day-to-day operations in the Maritimes, service new and existing clients, and play a leading role in further expanding the firm's footprint on the Canadian East Coast. He was most recently an advisor for Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic, based in Halifax.

"We are very pleased to have Michael join us and lead our Maritime operations," comments Rose. "Michael is highly regarded in the marketplace, has extensive experience in the region, and is a proven team player. His leadership of our team will further strengthen and grow our presence in Halifax and throughout the Maritime region."

Rose continues: "Michael will be responsible for the continued growth and development of our service lines in the Maritimes, and will take a lead role in recruiting top-tier talent for our team. We are excited about the contributions Michael will make to our organization, and are confident that his expert knowledge of the region's commercial real estate markets will provide a solid footing for Avison Young's growth in Halifax and the rest of the Maritimes."

Brown brings 12 years of commercial real estate industry experience to Avison Young. Specializing in office leasing, he has worked with a wide variety of local, national and international clients, including such notable organizations as HSBC Finance, AMEC Engineering, The Bank of Canada, Irving Oil Limited, Investors Group, Whiterock REIT, CN Rail, Cora's and Blue Basin Investments.

During his career, Brown has led preleasing for retail and office developments; represented tenants in office, retail and industrial transactions; and brokered numerous investment sales. He also owns a commercial property management firm. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield in 2002, Brown owned and operated Web and graphic design companies.

"Michael is a relationship-focused broker, which makes him an excellent fit for our organization's client-centric business model," says Mark Fieder, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director, Eastern Canada. "His expertise in the Halifax marketplace, and markets throughout the Maritime region and other parts of North America, will enable him to provide our clients with best-in-class real estate solutions. As our operations in the Maritimes continue to grow, we are pleased to bring our clients an expanding range of services and depth of experience to successfully address their real estate requirements."

Brown holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New Brunswick and a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. He is also passionate about the preservation of nature and habitat for wildlife, donating to this cause through sponsorship, time and personal investment.

Avison Young opened its Halifax office in 2006. Over the past five years, the company has grown from 11 to 60 offices and from 300 to more than 1,600 real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S., and in Europe.

"I am excited about the opportunity to grow Avison Young's presence in the Halifax and Maritime markets," notes Brown. "I was particularly attracted to the company's Principal-led structure, its strategic direction and its collaborative approach to meeting clients' needs. In addition, I look forward to taking a leadership role to capitalize on opportunities for expansion in the Maritime region, and working with the other Managing Directors across the company to further grow Avison Young's brand in Canada, the U.S. and overseas."

Today's announcement comes on the heels of Avison Young opening a new office in Cleveland, OH on September 23, 2014, and the firm acquiring New Jersey-based asset management firm Kwartler Associates on September 18, 2014.

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 1,600 real estate professionals in 60 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties.

Editors/Reporters
• Please click on link to view and download photo of Michael Brown
http://www.avisonyoung.com/sites/default/files/content-files/Media_Room/Temp/Michael_Brown.jpg

For further information/comment/photos:

• Sherry Quan, Principal, National Director of Communications & Media Relations,

  Avison Young: 604.647.5098; 604.726.0959

• Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young: 416.673.4028

• Mark Fieder, Principal and Managing Director, Eastern Canada, Avison Young: 416.673.4051

• Michael Brown, Managing Director, Halifax, Avison Young: 902.454.4110

www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and 2012 and requalified in 2013 to maintain its status as a Best Managed company.

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SOURCE: Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

Media Relations: Sherry Quan, [phone] or [phone], email: [email protected]