Broll's Ken Gerber says they are looking forward to reaping the rewards that both parties will bring.
Following the announcement made earlier this year, Cushman & Wakefield and Broll Occupier Services officially launched their affiliation in Sandton on Thursday, 19 September.
The affiliation will provide end-to-end corporate real estate solutions for business across all sectors, including advisory and transactions, workplace consulting project management, estate management, data management, technology and finance and treasury services.
Read more: Broll Property Group and Cushman & Wakefield enter into an exclusive affiliate arrangement
Speaking at the event, Cushman & Wakefield head of global occupier services James Maddock said the brand became a global entity 94 years ago as the result of a merger between three big companies. “The intention was to become a major player in corporate real estate across the world,” he said. “As I stand here today, I know we have the capacity to do everything we need to do for our corporate and investing clients.”
He explained that the growth was in response to what clients demanded; more globalisation with a more regionalisation touch, consistency and better pricing. “To do that, we needed to be bigger and today employ between 41,000 and 50,000 people in our global officer,” Maddock said.
Broll Property Group CEO Malcolm Horne said a warm “Siyabonga” to the many people he wanted to thank. He recalled the first meeting with the Cushman & Wakefield team in Cape Town and remarked: “They are people-centric and passionate about the work – no matter the level.”
He continued, thanking the Broll Occupier Service staff:
“Broll’s success is thanks to our clients and our client relationships where we always set out with the intention to find solutions. Thank you for supporting our business.”
Keynote speaker of the evening, author and trend specialist, John Sanei spoke about data, the power of the internet and the future of the world.
He mentioned four new pillars that would define the future:
- Information technology
- Machine learning/intelligence
- Blockchain
- Biotechnologies
He added:
“And so, what we have to realise is that if you are stuck in your past you need to ask yourself, are you living a life based on a set of memories of your past or are you living a life based on the vision of your future?”
He said that the logic of the past would not take us into the future, “but the burden of choice with zero certainty creates the state of panic around the unknown.”
Broll Occupier Services managing director Ken Gerber said:
“This partnership provides an important distinction for users of space, who will benefit from the Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL dedicated focus on occupier clients.”
“Our progressive culture of innovation, service excellence and longstanding client relationships provides a natural synergy with Cushman & Wakefield. Broll’s focus will always be on providing value-adding advice that comes from a deep understanding of local markets across Africa, based on our experience in concluding over 6,000 leases in the past 12 months alone, covering in excess of 2.2 million sqm,” Gerber said.
He concluded:
“We are thrilled to announce this venture and look forward to reaping the rewards that both parties will bring.”
Photo: (from Left) Ken Gerber (Managing Director Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL), Jonathan Broll (Chairman of Broll Property Group), Shaun Jenkinson ( International Partner), James Maddock (Head of EMEA Global Occupier Services & Service Line Strategy) and Malcolm Horne (Group CEO, Broll Property Group)
