Avison Young opens new Fairfield/Westchester office in Tri-State area

Leading industry professional Sean Cahill joins as Principal and Managing Director;
fast-growing commercial real estate services firm opens 41st U.S. office

TORONTO, June 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, today announced the opening of a newly formed Fairfield/Westchester office to expand the firm's Tri-State market presence.

The newest American office represents Avison Young's first office in Connecticut, fourth office in the Tri-State area, 41st office in the U.S., 43rd office outside of Canada, and an additional step in the firm's ongoing aggressive growth strategy.

Over the past five years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to, now, 58 offices in 47 markets, and from 300 to more than 1,500 real estate professionals across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe.

Effective immediately, seasoned industry professional Sean Cahill becomes a Principal and Managing Director of the firm's new Fairfield/Westchester office, and will work closely with Avison Young Tri-State President Arthur Mirante to establish the firm's presence in southern Connecticut and suburban New York. Cahill was most recently a Senior Vice-President at CBRE in Stamford, CT.

As Managing Director, Cahill will also focus his efforts on servicing new and existing clients, as well as managing the day-to-day operations of the Fairfield/Westchester office.

"The continued growth of our Tri-State operations is a critical focus for us as part of our strategy to introduce Avison Young's differentiated brand of client-centric service into key markets," comments Rose. "Fairfield and Westchester counties, which are in proximity to New York City, one of the world's leading global economic hubs, have long supported a high concentration of financial services firms and hedge funds. Improvements in the economy make the current climate an opportune time to expand into Fairfield and Westchester counties, and we look forward to the contributions that Sean will make in leading our local efforts to build a strong regional presence."

Avison Young opened its first New York office in April 2012 in New York City, with Mirante joining as Principal and Tri-State President. The company opened its New Jersey office in September 2012, followed by a Long Island office in August 2013.

Adds Earl Webb, Avison Young's President, U.S. Operations: "The local market knowledge and depth of client experiences and relationships that Sean brings to Avison Young will significantly expand the reach of our Tri-State platform, providing us with the opportunity to service the needs of our clients who have, or are considering, a presence in the Fairfield or Westchester county markets. Additionally, Sean's credibility as a proven leader positions us strongly in recruiting top talent and developing new business opportunities to build our local platform the right way."

Effective immediately, Avison Young's Fairfield/Westchester office is located at 65 Locust Avenue in New Canaan, CT.

"The expansion of our Tri-State operations allows us to create regional synergies in servicing the needs of our corporate and institutional clients," notes Mirante. "The economies of Fairfield and Westchester counties and New York City are closely intertwined, enabling us to tap into the relationships and reach of our team to collaborate in identifying new opportunities for growth. Sean's track record as one of the region's most accomplished professionals will provide us with the network and insight needed to enter the Connecticut and suburban New York markets quickly, and immediately begin building our book of business."

"I am very excited to utilize my more than 25 years of experience in the Fairfield and Westchester county real estate markets to take this next step in my career and play an integral role in building Avison Young's regional presence here," states Cahill. "The firm's collaborative culture and Principal-led structure provide the foundation for superior client service, and the firm's rapid expansion to date demonstrates the strong demand that exists for Avison Young's solutions-based approach." 

Fairfield County is the most densely populated county of Connecticut and a well-known haven for investment management firms. Commuter rail service, considered one of Fairfield County's most important transportation options, provides direct access to Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and has contributed to a concentration of multinational corporate headquarters in the county.

According to 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data, Westchester County is the fifth-wealthiest county in New York and ranks second after New York County in terms of highest median income per person. The county's telecommunications network is a major contributor to new investment, educational opportunities, employment growth and quality of life. The 800-mile fiber optic network, initiated by the county and built by Cablevision's Lightpath, links local governments, libraries, hospitals and schools, and helped spark competing rings that ultimately created one of the best local telecom infrastructures in the U.S.

Biography

Sean Cahill
Sean Cahill brings 26 years of commercial real estate industry experience to Avison Young. Most recently a Senior Vice-President at CBRE, he has specialized in tenant and landlord representation and investment sales throughout his career, leveraging his vast network of industry relationships to service the real estate requirements of companies throughout southern Connecticut and Westchester County, as well as globally.

Cahill has completed more than 15 million square feet of transactions, including a 250,000-square-foot (sf) build-to-suit data center on behalf of a large international bank in Shelton, CT; the relocation of GE Asset Management's 160,000-sf global headquarters in Stamford, CT; renegotiations for D+M Holdings' 90,000-sf lease in Tokyo last October and the company's 50,000-sf world headquarters in Mahwah, NJ; and Energizer Personal Care Products' global headquarters relocation to 80,000 sf in Shelton, CT. Cahill has also led several significant assignments on behalf of a long list of high-caliber corporations, including Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Beiersdorf AG, Andor Capital Management, U.S. Bank, Pepperidge Farm and Cambridge Hanover.

Cahill is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and CoreNet Global. He is also an active member of the United States Tennis Association and the U.S. Sailing Association.

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 58 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 Sean Cahill
http://www.avisonyoung.com/sites/default/files/content-files/Media_Room/Temp/AY_SeanCahill.jpg

For further information/comment/photos:

• Christa Segalini, Vice-President, Beckerman PR: 201.465.8021

• Sherry Quan, Principal, National Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959

• Elliot Baum, Principal and Vice-President of Marketing, New York, Avison Young: 212.729.7465

Avison Young's Fairfield/Westchester office is located at: 65 Locust Avenue, New Canaan, CT

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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Avison Young – New York, LLC, operating as Avison Young, is a licensed real estate broker in Connecticut (License Number: REB.0790373), New Jersey (License Number: 1224347), and New York (License Number: 10491203851).
Sean M. Cahill is a licensed real estate broker in Connecticut (License Number: REB.0790290) and serves as the Designated Broker for Avison Young – New York, LLC in Connecticut.
Jeffrey Heller is a licensed real estate broker in New Jersey (License Number: 8539649) and serves as the Broker of Record for Avison Young – New York, LLC in New Jersey.
Arthur J. Mirante is a licensed real estate broker in New York (License Number: 10491203851) and serves as the Principal Broker for Avison Young – New York, LLC in New York.

SOURCE: Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

Christa Segalini, [phone]; [phone] cell, email: [email protected]