"Mark's extensive real estate and capital markets experience, as well as his proven strategic leadership skills, make him ideally suited to head our organization as we embark on an accelerated growth strategy," says Bob Levine, part of Avison Young's national committee, in a press release.

Rose joined Grubb & Ellis in 2005 and was involved with its relisting on the New York Stock Exchange and the acquisition of NNN Real Estate Advisors. Before that, he was chief operating and financial officer of Jones Lang LaSalle's North American operations.

Avison Young was founded in 1996 after the merger of Graeme Young & Associates and Avison & Associates. The real estate services firm, which is part of the Grubb & Ellis network, does business in the office, industrial and retail sectors.