C&W Boosts Its Retail Practice

NEW YORK CITY—Cushman & Wakefield has hired Eva Marie Santiago, a retail strategist and development consultant, as a director. She most recently served as VP for retail corporate services at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.

Santiago played a leadership role in devising and implementing marketing and leasing strategies for high-profile retail developments and served as a key liaison to C-level executives across multiple business platforms at BGC Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald. 

“With first-class credentials in the fields of real estate and economic development, Eva brings a deep understanding of the New York City retail sector,” says Ron Lo Russo, president, New York tri-state region. “She will help Cushman & Wakefield build upon our record of success in retail.”

Previously, Santiago has worked with the Blackstone Group's Equity Office portfolio in the Times Square and Bryant Park areas and she has served as director of economic development and business development for the Times Square Alliance.  She was also executive director of the Montclair Economic Development Corporation in Montclair, NJ and served as a senior financial analyst for New York City's Office of Management and Budget under Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

 Santiago is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and the International Council of Shopping Centers. “We're continuing to add top-tier talent in New York and Eva is the latest example of this,” says Suzy Reingold, COO, New York tri-state region.

The firm recently released its market report for the fourth quarter of 2013. The report cited Manhattan's retail sector as an area of strength that has consistently outpaced national retail trends. Boosted by tourism as a key driver of retail traffic, the report found that the sector was steadily performing beyond expectations, with supporting fundamentals pointing to further sustainability.