NEW YORK CITY-Joseph R. Harbert, chief operating officer for Cushman & Wakefield’s New York Metro Region, has departed the brokerage to become president of the Eastern region at Colliers International. According to Crain’s New York Business, the move is “part of the company’s effort to raise its profile” in New York City.

Dylan Taylor, CEO of the US division of Colliers, told Crain’s that the firm hired Harbert for his proven “leadership in the New York market” and a “tremendous track record of taking brokerages to leading positions.”

Harbert, who was responsible for developing and overseeing management initiatives for all of the service lines at C&W, has also served as vice chair and general manager at CBRE, where he was responsible for management of retail services, investment sales, consulting, agency leasing and asset services. Prior to the merger with CBRE, he filled the positions of senior managing director and eventually chief operating officer for Insignia/ESG for its New York Metro Region.