Former GVA Williams Retail President Makes Move

NEW YORK CITY-Grubb & Ellis Co. has added Patrick Breslin, the former president of GVA Williams’ retail group, and his two-person team to the firm’s New York City office. The 22-year commercial real estate veteran has been named to the newly created position of president, Grubb & Ellis East Coast Retail Group, and will play a key role in expanding the company’s national retail presence.

Joining Breslin is Andrew Connolly, managing director and Kenneth Yip, financial analyst and associate. The team expands the Grubb & Ellis’s New York retail group, which includes Henry Goldfarb, recently appointed vice chairman, and retail veterans Stanley Lindenfeld, Robert Kunikoff and Gary Schwartzman. A spokesman from GVA Williams tells GlobeSt.com that “the firm’s policy is not to discuss matters involving employees or former employees” when asked about the move.

A Grubb & Ellis spokeswoman tells GlobeSt.com that Breslin and Connolly, who both come from GVA Williams, will have similar responsibilities to the ones they had at their previous positions, which were focused on leading retail initiatives there. The spokeswoman adds that this is a great addition for Grubb & Ellis because “we can expand our retail presence and add some multi-location national big box clients.”