It's the third raid of a competitor's ranks in 10 months by Cawley, chairman and CEO of Cawley International. This time, it's J. Reagan Dixon, Cushman & Wakefield's senior managing director who is vacating his post today. A month ago, it had been Dan Polanchyck, top producer for Henry S. Miller Commercial and before that, Ran Holman who had been snatched from the role of senior managing director for CB Richard Ellis.
Cawley, in a prepared statement, says he is setting the stage to take his operation "to the next level." That level creates a Cawley Wilcox Cos. umbrella, with Dixon taking the operational reins of Cawley International and Wilcox Realty Group. With the vice chairman and COO's job comes "dotted line" responsibility for Wilcox Development Services' staffing and support systems. Holman is the president of Cawley International while Polanchyck is its senior managing director. Steve Platt leads Wilcox Development Services.
The four-star lineup is part of Cawley's "long-term vision ... to acquire the best talent in the real estate community to join and shape the vision of the Cawley Wilcox Cos."At Cushman & Wakefield, the search is on for a new leader. In the interim, Bob Edge, vice chairman of the national corporation, and Jack Fraker, executive vice president, will manage the Dallas branches until Dixon's successor is in place.
The popular Dixon leaves a void that will be hard to fill. "Reagan Dixon has been a mentor, a leader and most importantly a friend to all of us at Cushman & Wakefield," Edge says in a prepared statement. "He has seen this office through rough times and good times - and leaves us now extremely well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us."
In some cases, departure accolades are lip service. That's not the case with Dixon. He is one of the most well-liked, high-profile figures in the region's commercial real estate industry. Cawley perhaps says it best: "There is no one in the real estate community with a better reputation."
In 1998, Dixon had received the prestigious People's Choice Award for the most admired manager, an honor bestowed by his peers. The following year, he had been accorded a Dallas publication's Heavy Hitters Mentor Award for his guidance, encouragement and inspiration. He is the founder and first president of the Land Council of North Texas and founder of the Managers Forum. Through the years, he has received scores of brokerage honors.
Dixon's resignation had been a closely guarded secret for one day. His immediate exit is his decision, saying it's best for all since he's bound for a competitor's ranks. "It's been a good run," Dixon told GlobeSt.com. But he's not leaving his people high and dry: "They can call me forever if they want to" and he says he'll answer any and all questions that might arise.
His Cushman & Wakefield role of late has been to maintain the status quo of the operation that he's built. He seemingly misses the thrill of the deal, the challenge of building and fight to get to the top. "I'm ready for a challenge," Dixon explains.What the honorable Dixon says he won't do is raid Cushman & Wakefield's ranks to get the people he wants in place to fulfill Cawley's vision."I don't want to hurt Cushman & Wakefield," he emphasizes. "There are plenty of places to recruit."
Fraker credits Dixon's leadership with making the Dallas office what it is today. "When Reagan came to work with Cushman & Wakefield 12 years ago, conditions in the economy and real estate industry were less than favorable," says Fraker. "Under Reagan's leadership and with a recovering market, the Dallas office has grown, added new service lines, and been one of the top producing offices of Cushman & Wakefield nationwide. We wish Reagan much success in his new position.
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