Cushman & Wakefield, a global leader in commercial real estate services, has officially appointed Michelle MacKay as its Chief Executive Officer. MacKay, who previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer for the company, takes the helm of the global business, overseeing its operations worldwide. With an impressive background in real estate finance spanning over 30 years, she brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to her new role.
Having joined Cushman & Wakefield's Board of Directors in 2018, MacKay quickly rose to prominence within the company. In 2020, she assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer, responsible for leading the firm's Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region, Global Occupier Services (GOS), and several other key business segments. Notably, her leadership has been instrumental in driving the firm's profitability, growth, and development of new strategic opportunities.
MacKay's extensive career includes executive roles at iStar, Inc., UBS, J.P. Morgan, and The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. As a seasoned commercial real estate executive, she is renowned for her ability to unlock value for real estate assets and companies. With an MBA from the University of Hartford and a BA in political science and government from the University of Connecticut, the newly minted CEO combines academic prowess with hands-on experience.
Brett White, Executive Chairman and CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, recently expressed confidence in MacKay's capabilities, highlighting “Michelle has an impressive track record of creating substantial value for shareholders and clients through her deep expertise in commercial real estate and corporate strategy. In their new roles, the combination of Michelle and Andrew – who also has played a pivotal role in the firm’s profitability, growth and development of new strategic opportunities – creates a formidable leadership team that is uniquely qualified to steer evolution within the commercial real estate services industry. We are confident that their leadership will significantly advance the firm’s operational excellence and ability to deliver long-term growth.”
For her new role, MacKay said, “I’m looking forward to leading this great firm through its next chapter of strategic growth. Cushman & Wakefield’s unique entrepreneurial culture and employee expertise position us to not only successfully navigate the current challenges in commercial real estate services, but to also deliver long-term value, profitability and growth.” Additionally, she expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Andrew and teams worldwide to amplify positive impacts for clients, shareholders, and the communities served by Cushman & Wakefield.
The appointment of MacKay signifies a significant milestone for Cushman & Wakefield, placing a seasoned leader at the helm to guide the company's evolution and contribute to the advancement of the commercial real estate services industry.