NEW YORK CITY—The appointment of retail whiz and office broker Laura Pomerantz—whose client list includes the likes of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg—to the high title of vice chairman and head of strategic accounts at Cushman & Wakefield last week was undoubtedly a coup for the firm. Her experience and deep reach into the industry will give Cushman a sizeable boost.
But what will Pomerantz' move to the real estate services firm from her own eponymous company mean for the parties involved, and even for the industry? GlobeSt.com sat down with Pomerantz to discuss the shift, and its impact.
GlobeSt.com: What impact will your position have on Cushman & Wakefield?
Pomerantz: We see this as an opportunity to broaden the capabilities of C&W by broadening our expertise in retail, office, valuation etc. across a lot of accounts. So many people in the business just work on one area or the other but a lot of clients today have full service needs. If we have the best of the best in multiple areas, we can deliver the best service.
It's about growing relationships at the firm and fielding the best people in each area of real estate services. Cushman has always represented the best of the best. I hope that my actions and ideas will enhance the brand. It's a fantastic opportunity to augment my experience and give my existing clients a global platform.
GlobeSt.com: What does your perspective bring to the firm?
Pomerantz: There's synergy between my philosophy and Ed Forst's vision of moving this company forward. I've always been incredibly client-centric and focused on quality-of-service. This is consistent with Cushman & Wakefield's values and culture. The company also is working to be enterprising versus corporate.
For example, the executives work to communicate to the entire company. Also, my company has always had a great spirit and Cushman wants me to bring that. Cushman is looking to advance women and it is emphasizing technology and philanthropy.
GlobeSt.com: What does your appointment say about women in the business getting ahead?
Pomerantz: This business has been male oriented but when real estate companies bring confident women into the business, they do well. They're good multitaskers and great team players.
I also believe in women. I don't feel that you give an open job to a female candidate if the man is better suited but I do think we need to be aware of chances to move women ahead.
GlobeSt.com: Why are you keeping your former firm open?
Pomerantz: My new physical home is Cushman & Wakefield and I will put all of my energies into my position here. But every business has a pipeline so I have an obligation to finish those obligations with the same professionalism that I would have otherwise. And if I need some solution I hadn't thought of, I have an amazing platform right here, and the company is more than willing to help with that.
As their global needs expand, they're going to be able to turn to someone they trust to provide human resources, financial resources and research and important metrics that I would have had to outsource in the past. So I bring much more to the table than the resources I had in my own company.
C&W has always represented the best of the best; I hope my actions and ideas will enhance the brand. It's a fantastic opportunity to augment my experience and give my existing clients a global platform.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
