SAN FRANCISCO—Office leasing specialist Riccardo Gale has joined Avison Young San Francisco as partner. Nick Slonek, Avison Young principal and managing director of the company's Northern California region, announced the hiring.

Effective immediately, Gale becomes a principal of Avison Young and will continue to focus on leasing, tenant representation and valuation services. He was most recently a vice-president in Newmark Cornish & Carey's San Francisco office.

“Riccardo has been a friend and a colleague for more than a decade. Knowing his ethics and enthusiasm for the business made our decision to bring him on as a Principal an easy one,” said Slonek. “He will maintain his current clientele and procure new relationships by leveraging our project management, lease administration and property management service lines. He will truly excel and rise to the next level in our principal-led, client-centric culture.”