CB Richard Ellis' local leader declined to comment on theunrelated exits by Hunter Blanks, a senior vice president, andFrank Ricca, managing director of a Fort Worth office that waslaunched lastAugust, with post-merger reins being shared by managingdirector Bob Scully. Blanks has become an executive vice presidentwith Colliers International Inc.'s local team, including a leadingrole nationally for a specialty group, and Ricca has been namedmanaging director for Jones Lang LaSalle.

Blanks and Ricca stressed it was "opportunity" that lured themand not any issues related to the CBRE-Trammell Crow Co. merger.Blanks, in fact, had put CBRE on notice in December 2006 that heintended to shop the market. Ricca says his chance came upunexpectedly after his JLL friends met with company leaders inChicago who then came to him with a job. "I really was notlooking," Ricca says.

"CB has been very supportive of me in this transition," Blankssays. His future calls for building a tenant rep team dedicated tothe legal profession while Ricca is laying the groundwork for aJLL-flagged office in Fort Worth.