CUSHMAN & Wakefield has made two new appointments to its leadership team, with Mitchell Wilson and Maria Russo-Fama.
Mitchell will take the position as the new head of project & development services (PDS), coming from his role as project director and senior leadership position at design and construction firm Unita.
“I look forward to working with the Cushman & Wakefield’s PDS teams in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific to accelerate the growth of the business. Cushman & Wakefield has a strong market reputation in delivering project management solutions to investor and occupier clients, which is a great foundation upon which to build,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell also brings his experience as owner and financial director of CIP Building Services and senior positions at Westpac and JLL.
“Attracting an accomplished leader of Mitchell’s calibre and a client relationship and business development specialist with Maria’s credentials is a testament to our strengthening market presence in the sector,” said Tom Gibson head of PDS Asia Pacific, for Cushman & Wakefield.
Russo-Fama will become Cushman & Wakefield’s director of client services, after serving at National Projects & Maintenance as head of client relations.
Prior to that, Russo-Fama worked as client solutions director at BGIS APAC and was member of the senior leadership team .
“Their leadership will help the business capture rising demand from our investor and occupier client base for advisory, capital works programs, commercial fitouts, principal contracting and project management services,” said Gibson.
“Our ambition is to continue the positive momentum and now double the ANZ business over the next 3 years with their support.”
Todd Hanrahan will also be relocated to the role of head of PDS in New Zealand, after working in Cushman & Wakefield’s Japan office for more than 2.5 years.
“I’m also delighted to relocate Todd from our Japan office to lead the PDS team in New Zealand as we accelerate the growth within PDS across Australia and New Zealand.”
Cushman & Wakefield’s Asia Pacific PDS business has grown by 50% over the last three years, managing circa US$2 billion in CAPEX for 2020.
Across 950 project managers, the group is currently handling 740 live projects, with their Australian team of more than 115 project specialists managing 250 active projects each years, with around $1 billion under program management.
Over 2021, Cushman has promoted a number of valuers, as well as making new hires to its VIC team and its national valuations & advisory team. While Knight Frank Australia appointed to CEO, Cushman’s former CEO, James Patterson.
