Sohmer will replace Stacy Wallach as senior managing director. Wallach is retiring from the firm, effective January 1, 2007. Wallach will continue in his existing role until that time.

Until now, Sohmer has been managing director of CBRE's Central New Jersey office in East Brunswick. As part of the leadership transition in New Jersey, he will be replaced in the latter position by Tom Krieger, a 10-year vet in the commercial brokerage field who has most recently been managing CBRE's Long Island region in New York. Krieger is credited with expanding the firm's Long Island operations during his tenure.

Before joining CBRE in 2001, Sohmer was a senior vice president at Grubb & Ellis, where he achieved that firm's Circle of Excellence designation from 1996 to 2001. Over the years his client list for major transactions has included such names as Merrill Lynch, MetLife, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Tyco Electronics, Verizon Wireless, Thomas & Betts and L'Oreal.

"Ray Sohmer is an outstanding professional and leader, and this promotion reflects his track record and market expertise," says Murphy, who heads CBRE's Tri-State Suburban operations from the Saddle Brook office. "His experience as both a broker and a manager provide him with the insights to help our 140 professionals advise their clients. Under his leadership, CBRE is positioned to continue to grow.

"We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Stacy Wallach for his efforts, professionalism and leadership," Murphy says. "Stacy is a consummate professional and he made a significant contribution to CBRE."