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FORT LAUDERDALE—One brokerage’s loss is another’s gain. Avison Young has expanded its operations into Florida by adding 30 people from Flagler Real Estate Services to its roster.

“Expanding our brand into the Florida marketplace is an important part of our strategy to establish a strong presence in key markets across the U.S.,” Mark Rose, chairman and CEO of Avison Young, said in a statement. “We have always viewed the major Florida markets as critical to our national platform, especially as the demographics continue to shift in that direction, and as capital from both North America and South America continues to seek investments in these markets.” 

Picking up the Flagler brokers adds eight new principals to Avison Young: Pike Rowley; Keith O’Donnell; Wayne Schuchts; Greg Martin; A.J. Belt III; Brian Mark; Michael Vullis; and Scott Auker. David Bateman, David Duckworth, Van Barron, Brett Rowley, and Jonathan Senn, all former Flagler brokers, are also joining the firm. The expansion adds 3.4 million square feet to the firm’s property management portfolio.

“While we have scaled back our brokerage operations to align with our business platform, Flagler Real Estate Services has retained a senior brokerage team led by veteran Jack Lowell and will continue to offer third-party services throughout South Florida,"  Keith Tickell, Chief Operating Officer of Flagler, tells GlobeSt.com. "FRES intends to expand the reach of its property management division, which currently services a portfolio of more than 20 million square feet of commercial space throughout Florida.”

Avison Young will headquarter its new Florida operations in Fort Lauderdale, with branch offices in Boca Raton and Miami. Avison Young has grown from 11 to 37 offices in 31 markets and from 300 to more than 1,000 real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S. in the last three years.

“Pike and his team have a long history of success in South Florida, both as the former Codina firm as well as with Flagler, and have established a stellar reputation for excellent client service,” Earl Webb, Avison Young’s president of US operations, said in a statement. “The Florida region is a significant growth area for Avison Young, and we are very pleased to be partnering with one of the most dominant real estate players in the Florida market.”

Most recently president of Flagler Real Estate Services, Rowley becomes managing director of Avison Young’s Florida region. He will focus on overseeing the growth and development of the firm’s presence throughout Florida, as well as servicing new and existing clients and managing the day-to-day operations of the South Florida offices.

“Avison Young’s platform fits us like a glove,” Rowley said in a statement. “We are able to tap into a national platform with a group of senior level brokers and property managers who share our culture of excellence and client service.”

Rowley says seasoned brokers and real estate executives reach a turning point in their careers where ownership in their company is important to them. As he sees it, Avison Young has created a platform that provides an ownership structure without the headaches of operational decisions.

“My team learned very quickly that the peer group within Avison Young comprises passionate crew members rowing in the same direction,” Rowley says. “Avison Young’s company-wide collaboration is refreshing, and puts the client first. The members of my team have longstanding relationships with institutional and private clients who expect great service and intelligent solutions. We needed a partner who aligned with our interest in serving these clients, and we found that with Avison Young.”