Avison Young opens new office in Frankfurt, Germany

Fastest-growing commercial real estate firm expands to continental Europe; Udo Stoeckl becomes Managing Director

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, announced today that the company has expanded to Germany with the opening of a new office in Frankfurt.

The new office represents Avison Young's first location in Germany and continental Europe, the firm's third office outside of North America, and an additional step in the company's ongoing aggressive global growth and expansion strategy.

Over the past five-and-a-half years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to, now, 62 offices in 51 markets and from 300 to more than 1,700 real estate professionals in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. 

Effective immediately, Udo Stoeckl becomes Managing Director of the Frankfurt office. He also holds the title of Principal.

Stoeckl will head up the company's German operations and will work with future Principals in Germany to implement the firm's growth strategy. He will be responsible for growing a full-service commercial real estate platform in Frankfurt and assist with Avison Young's expansion across Germany through recruitment and acquisition.

"Our new office in Germany represents the next step and a milestone in Avison Young's company history," comments Rose. "Germany represents one of the most dynamic commercial real estate markets in the world, both from a domestic and international investment perspective. Furthermore, any company that claims to be a global entity must have a significant presence in Frankfurt – and, now, with Udo on board, we do."

Rose continues: "By opening an office in Frankfurt, we have, effectively, established ourselves in the heart of the continental European commercial real estate marketplace. The Frankfurt office will serve as a launch pad for further growth throughout Europe and enable us to develop new client relationships – and strengthen existing ones in the U.K., U.S. and Canada."

Stoeckl, who joined Avison Young in 2011 to advise European and North American capital-markets clients on their cross-border activities, will continue to serve clients on both continents with cross-border transactions.

"We will benefit from Udo's expanded role," adds Rose. "He is an established and highly respected industry leader who strives to put clients first while opening doors to new markets and erasing borders. Since joining Avison Young, Udo has been a vital asset, clearing a path for our entry to Germany and, eventually, other European markets. Also, the Frankfurt office's proximity to our U.K. operations will allow us to leverage the resources, knowledge and expertise available in our London and Thames Valley, U.K. offices and assist clients in all asset classes around the globe."

Avison Young launched its European presence in April 2014 when the firm acquired NAI Haywards and opened new offices in London and Thames Valley.

"I'm very excited to be spearheading our expansion activities in Germany," states Stoeckl. "We will continue to grow through our Principal-led strategy in Germany and recruit top real estate professionals throughout the country. We have already advised clients on transactions in London and Cologne, and we're looking forward to announcing additional transactions in the very near future."

Avison Young's new Frankfurt office will be located at An der Welle 4, 60322 Frankfurt am Main in the city centre of Frankfurt.

Frankfurt is the financial services centre at the heart of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region where 5.52 million inhabitants live. Approximately 365,000 companies and a workforce of 2.88 million people produce an annual GDP of €200.5 billion. The region consists of an international mix of industries, from large industrial groups to small software developers. Frankfurt is one of Europe's top corporate locations. The city's central position, excellent infrastructure with one of the biggest airports in Europe, concentration of forward-looking companies, and internationalism make Frankfurt a leading European city. As the headquarters of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt serves as the centre point of European monetary and currency policy.

Also joining Stoeckl in Frankfurt is Simone Meudt as administrative assistant. Meudt will work closely with Stoeckl to support the expansion initiative.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of Avison Young acquiring Orlando, Florida-based MCRE, LLC (dba Morrison Commercial Real Estate) and opening a new office in Orlando on November 13, 2014.

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Biography

Udo Stoeckl       
Udo Stoeckl began his real estate career in 2001 as a trainee at Commerzbank. In 2004, he started as an analyst with Commerz Real AG in Dusseldorf before becoming acquisition manager for North American commercial real estate markets. In 2011, Stoeckl joined Avison Young to head the firm's European/North American cross-border activities. Since then, he has facilitated transactions throughout North America and Europe totaling $450 million. In April 2013, he brokered the sale of 30 Crown Place in London, U.K., which represented Avison Young's first investment transaction in Europe. He also represented the buyer in Avison Young's first investment transaction in Cologne, Germany, which closed in April 2014. During his career, Stoeckl has successfully completed $2.8 billion in geographically diverse transactions involving various asset types.

Stoeckl holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cooperative Education in Mosbach, Germany, and a post-graduate degree in real estate economics from the International Real Estate Business School in Essen, Germany.

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 1,700 real estate professionals in 62 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 Udo Stoeckl:
http://www.avisonyoung.com/sites/default/files/content-files/Media_Room/Temp/UdoStockl.jpg

For further information/comment/photos:

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

• Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young: 416.673.4028

In Germany, please contact:  

• Udo Stoeckl, Principal and Managing Director, Frankfurt, Avison Young: [phone] 

• Florian Hirt, Managing Director, Public Star, Wiesbaden: [phone] (media relations)

Avison Young's new Frankfurt office is located at An der Welle 4, 60322 Frankfurt am Main

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)

For further information: Media Relations: Sherry Quan, 604.647.5098 or 604.726.0959, [e-mail]