Ashforth's ownership role has continued to expand and distracts and/or minimizes the necessity for the brokerage division, according to as statement from Ashforth's co-chief executive officer, Darrell Harvey. "[The] team led by Ed Tonnessen and Jeff Gage would like to expand the brokerage business and our company's overall strategy is more focused on the acquisition of properties," Harvey explains in a statement. "These two objectives are not necessarily compatible. Jones Lang LaSalle is a great company and a better long term platform for the brokerage team to join." The goal, he continues, is to let each team focus more efficiently on their "core business."

Ed Tonnesson and Jeff Gage will become executive managing directors for JLL in their Stamford office at First Stamford Place here. This acquisition will buttress JLL's presence in Connecticut and Westchester, NY. JLL recently acquired the Staubach Co. in a landmark deal in mid-June of this year. The Ashforth acquisition is slightly different in that the the Chicago-headquartered firm will take hold of the assets and hire the brokers associated with those properties, as opposed to taking on any associated properties.