“At other firms,” he adds, “you are divided by geographic area, but at Avison Young, everyone rolls in the same direction to win business.” Cushman & Wakefield did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

At Avison, Gurtler will complement the established suburban brokerage team of Jack Kerrigan and Steve Cook. That also was an enticement to the team's newest member.

“Jack Kerrigan and Steve Cook are industry veterans, they've had a long partnership and are very active, plus I've always had a good relationship with them,” Gurtler says. “That made it an easy sell.”

Says Rick Kimball, Avison Young principal and managing director of the company's Boston office “Keith is a proven industry leader and an ideal fit for our rapidly growing New England operation. Keith, who becomes the 10th principal appointed in Boston, will add to our suburban Boston team as his leasing knowledge and expertise will benefit landlords and tenants alike. He also will enable investors to achieve strong, consistent returns on their investment capital. Furthermore, through his leasing knowledge, extensive client roster and outstanding service, investors will have confidence that their properties will be leased to high-quality tenants over the long term.”