Cushman & Wakefield Elevates NJ's Donnelly

MORRISTOWN, NJ – Cushman & Wakefield's Robert J. Donnelly has been named Executive Vice Chairman, becoming the first New Jersey broker and the eighth employee with the commercial real estate services firm worldwide to hold the title.

A 34-year company veteran, Donnelly specializes in advising major corporations and representation of both tenants and landlords. 

“Bob has consistently been one of Cushman & Wakefield's top performing office brokers globally,” said Jim Underhill, CEO, Americas, for C&W. “Above all, he has built his career and success on putting clients first. Within our organization and throughout the industry, he is credited with being a frontrunner in the development of comprehensive corporate services.”

Donnelly is known for the length and durability of his professional relationships. As one of his first assignments at C&W in 1980, he was appointed exclusive leasing agent for Headquarters Plaza, a 560,000-square-foot tower then under development in Morristown. Thirty-three years later, he's still got the assignment.

It might be one of the longest-running continuous brokerage assignments in the country, C&W executives suggested.

“Bob and his team are invaluable partners for us at Headquarters Plaza,” said Brian Fischer, a principal with The Fisher Organization, which owns the property. “The New Jersey commercial real estate landscape has changed dramatically since this building opened. Our ability to draw and retain high-caliber tenants through several market cycles speaks to Bob's and Cushman & Wakefield's strategic vision and understanding of what it takes to position – and sustain – successful office properties.”

Donnelly has represented numerous Fortune 500 corporations over the course of his career: He has served as account executive for AT&T since 1993. He was, for many years, the account executive for General Electric and continues to serve as an advisor. A number of his relationships – with AT&T, General Electric and Alcatel-Lucent Technologies, for example – began in New Jersey and now extend globally.

Over the past three decades, Donnelly has negotiated sales involving more than 3,000 acres of land and resulting in 20 million square feet of office construction. He has completed lease and sale transactions for more than 100 million square feet.

 “I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with more great people than I ever imagined I would by being part of this company,” Donnelly said in response to his promotion He said he wanted to thank his partners Marc Rosenberg and Rob Donnelly, Jr., in particular for their support.