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NEW YORK — Cushman & Wakefield Inc. has appointed Edward Forst as president and chief executive officer of the company, effective Jan. 6, 2014. Forst, 53, has more than 30 years of experience working in international asset management, capital markets and operation leadership positions.
“Cushman & Wakefield is a powerful and iconic brand with unparalleled capabilities in providing creative and innovative real estate services and solutions to a global client base,” says Forst. “I am honored to lead Cushman & Wakefield and am particularly excited to work with this world-class team of professionals to build on the company's strengths and capitalize on the many opportunities ahead.”
He succeeds Carlo Barel di Sant'Albano, who held the position as interim president and CEO of the firm for the past five months. Di Sant’Albano took over the position when Glenn Rufrano resigned as CEO in June.
Forst joins the company following his tenure at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as global co-head of the firm’s investment management division and a member of its management committee. He was previously the firm’s chief administrative officer and most recently served as an advisor to Fenway Partners, a private investment firm.
During the financial crisis, Forst was selected to be the executive vice president and principal operating officer of Harvard University, from which he is a graduate. He led the institution’s non-academic affairs and served as advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“The appointment of a professional of Forst's caliber will further strengthen Cushman & Wakefield's ability to capture the opportunities to accelerate the firm's growth and capitalize on the substantial investment that has been made in the business over the last few years,” says John Elkann, chairman and CEO of EXOR, Cushman & Wakefield’s controlling shareholder. “EXOR remains strongly committed to supporting Cushman & Wakefield's development, enabling it to achieve its full potential in this exciting new phase.”
Founded in 1917, New York-based Cushman & Wakefield is a privately held commercial real estate services firm. The company has approximately 250 offices in 60 countries, advising and representing clients on all aspects of property occupancy and investment. The firm has nearly $4 billion in assets under management globally.
— Brittany Biddy