Three-peat for Avison Young as it is named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for third year in a row

A winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and 2012, Avison Young requalifies in 2013 to maintain status as a Best Managed company

TORONTO, March 25, 2014 /CNW/ - After competing against a wide range of companies nationwide to win the Canada's Best Managed Companies (Best Managed) award in 2011 and 2012, Toronto, ON-based commercial real estate services firm Avison Young requalified in 2013 to maintain its status as a Best Managed company.

The prestigious national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen's School of Business and MacKay CEO forums. The announcement was made today by the national sponsors and in a special report in the National Post daily newspaper.

Canada's Best Managed companies, spanning every region across the country and an array of industries, have demonstrated business excellence through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

"On behalf of the board of directors of Avison Young, our employees, our clients and our partners, we are truly honoured to have been named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for the third consecutive year," comments Avison Young Chair and CEO Mark Rose. "This award recognizes our commitment to strategy and to our Principal-led collaborative culture, which creates a workforce that is aligned with and focused on superior long-term results for clients. We are proud that this is a Canadian award administered by some of Canada's most highly regarded companies. It is shared by our staff across North America, who serve our clients day-in and day-out."

Rose continues: "Having this award bestowed upon our company is truly an honour, and gives us third-party confirmation that our values, accomplishments and culture are making a difference in the commercial real estate industry. We are proud to be named among the distinguished group of Requalified members, and congratulate all new and repeat winners."

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Over the past five years, the company has grown from 11 to 54 offices and from 300 to more than 1,500 real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S.

"The leadership of Avison Young is totally committed to being among the best managed businesses in the world," states Avison Young Principal Arthur Mirante, based in New York. The growth strategy of this enterprise, which is the fastest-growing business in the global real estate services industry, is our culture – a culture of collaboration, trust and client service all based on a value system of honesty, integrity and investment in people."

"This award will serve as a continuing inspiration to our professionals to practice our culture and values every day, and to recognize that this behaviour is valued by those who aspire to promote best practices in the real estate industry," he says. "To our clients, this award serves as an affirmation that they have made a good decision in entrusting their business to Avison Young, and that they can indeed trust that our professionals will put clients' interests first and foremost in all that we do."

According to John Hughes, National Leader of Canada's Best Managed Companies and Managing Partner, Growth Enterprises, Deloitte: "Over the past 21 years, Canada's Best Managed Companies program has recognized the most innovative and Best Managed Companies in Canada. We are delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of Avison Young."

Hughes adds: "Today's marketplace is not just about the investment in the product; it is also about the investment in the people. Avison Young invests in its team to build up a strong and stable company. Canada's Best Managed Companies carries this attribute and we are pleased to say Avison Young is one of this year's recipients."

Established in 1993, Canada's Best Managed Companies is a national awards program recognizing Canadian companies that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways. Applications are reviewed by an independent judging panel that evaluates how companies address various business challenges, including new technologies, globalization, brand management, leadership, leveraging and developing core competencies, designing information systems, and hiring the right talent to facilitate growth.

"To win this prestigious award among extremely formidable competition is a great honour for any organization," notes Avison Young Principal Jonathan Pearce, based in Toronto. "But to win this award originally in 2011, and then to requalify in both 2012 and 2013, is a true testament to the effort, sustainability, partnership and collaboration of an open-source, Principal-led culture that truly differentiates Avison Young as a leading commercial real estate services organization."

"Canada's Best Managed Companies program pushes candidate companies to continually strive to be best-in-class across a wide array of rigorous judging criteria. Receiving this award confirms to our clients, our Principals and our team members that the leadership team at Avison Young is unswervingly committed to the ongoing transparent, professional and judicious operation and management of Avison Young, as it continues on its remarkable growth trajectory," adds Pearce.

Jon Hountalas, Executive Vice-President, Business Banking, CIBC, notes: "This year's winners demonstrate the significant impact that Canadian private companies make from coast-to-coast – and beyond – by pursuing innovation and investing in meeting the needs of their clients."

The 2013 winners of the Canada's Best Managed Companies award, along with the Gold Standard winners, Requalified and Platinum Club members, will be honoured at the annual Best Managed gala in Toronto on April 1, 2014. On the same date, the Best Managed symposium will address leading-edge business issues that are key to the success of today's business leaders.

Adds Avison Young Principal Gail Crowder, based in Atlanta: "Avison Young is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have been active in the commercial real estate industry for a number of years. Finally, a company has structured its business model to fit with the highest standards and best practices that are necessary to truly take care of clients."

"What a joy it is to work so closely with our colleagues in an open, collaborative environment to create best-practice solutions that provide a winning combination of results for our clients," she says. "The brainstorming and bright ideas, the commitment to work ethic, and the quest for excellence – all of these things create a spirit of adventure that makes it exciting to wake up each morning and get to work."

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices.

The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Best Managed winner: one of the new winners selected each year; 2) Requalified member: repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review; 3) Gold Standard winner: after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully reapplied for the designation. Companies may requalify for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review; 4) Platinum Club member: winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of seven consecutive years.

Program partners are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen's School of Business and MacKay CEO forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca

About Avison Young

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 1,500 real estate professionals in 54 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.

For further information/comment/photos:

• Sherry Quan, National Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young:

  [phone]; cell: [phone]; [email protected]

• Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young: [phone]

www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca

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] cell, email: [email protected]