Cushman & Wakefield Appoints Chief Executive of C&W Services

The company has hired Mia Mends to oversee the team’s operations across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.

HOUSTON, TX – Cushman & Wakefield has hired Mia Mends as the new chief executive of C&W Services.

Effective today, Mends will assume the role, where she will oversee operations across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. As chief executive, she will lead a business of nearly 13,000 professionals that serve clients across a variety of industries, and she will also be a part of Cushman & Wakefield’s global management team.

Mends is transitioning into the role as Paul Bedborough, former chief executive of C&W Services, retires from the organization.

Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Mends held senior leadership roles at hospitality company Sodexo, where she had served for a decade. Most recently, Mends served as the firm’s CEO of impact ventures, which entailed leading SodexoMAGIC, a joint-venture between Sodexo and Magic Johnson Enterprises, and she additionally served as the firm’s global chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer. Mends also previously served as the firm’s chief administrative officer of North America, where she designed an integrated target operating model for the $10 billion business, while leading the productivity and performance of 160,000 employees.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Mia,” states Michelle MacKay, Cushman & Wakefield president and COO. “She brings a depth of experience through her business leadership and is a force for change. I am confident she will lead our high-performing C&W services team to continue driving strategic, profitable growth.”

“I’m excited to be joining an organization with a strong reputation for providing excellent services across a variety of industries, combining a great workforce and innovation,” says Mends. “I look forward to working with and leading a team of great people who will continue delivering exceptional outcomes for clients.”

Mends currently serves on the board of directors for the EMERGE Fellows program and she serves on Wellesley College’s business leadership council. She is also a corporate director at H&R Block and Limeade Inc. Mends holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wellesley College.

MacKay adds, “We wish Paul happiness in his well-deserved retirement. He has been a tremendous leader at C&W Services, which was especially evident as he successfully navigated the business through the pandemic.”