McKenzie Takes Reins as COO of Transwestern Northeast

BOSTON—Brokerage firm Transwestern has named commercial real estate veteran and partner Brian McKenzie as the COO of its Northeast region, Globest.com has learned exclusively.

McKenzie, who will work out of Transwestern's Boston office, will assist Northeast market leader and executive managing partner Steve Purpura in directing the day-to-day operations of the region that include Boston, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The position of COO is a newly created position at Transwestern's Northeast region. The brokerage firm is headquartered in Houston.

“We have been actively expanding and strengthening the firm's service lines across the Northeast region, delivering clients first-in-class agency leasing, management, tenant advisory and capital markets capabilities,” says Purpura. “As COO, Brian will drive that expansion while ensuring continuity across the entire Northeast. Brian's expanded role will provide him valuable insight as he continues to advise clients on their real estate strategies.”

Purpura, who took over as team leader of the Northeast region about a year ago, says that with the Boston office now managing other Northeast offices in New York City (600 Lexington Ave., Manhattan), New Jersey (Parsippany) and Connecticut (Greenwich), it necessitated the creation of the COO position and McKenzie's appointment.

“We have been in growth mode for a year,” Purpura says. “So we have grown New York, we have grown New Jersey and we have certainly grown in Boston. We are now of a size that we need someone like Brian to help run the operations.”

In addition to hires this year and planned new hires in the future in New York and Boston, Purpura says that the company is growing its property management, capital markets and project management businesses. This year the company has added 10 employees to bring its New York City workforce to 30 and has increased its employee count in Boston from 40 to 75. He adds that the company hopes to add five to six new employees to its New Jersey operations before the end of the year.

Looking into the future, Purpura said that the company will continue to grow its New York City, Boston and New Jersey offices and is actively looking to open an office in Philadelphia.

McKenzie was a founding partner of Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, which was acquired by Transwestern in 2013. Previously, he was a managing director at Insignia/ESG. He graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross and is a member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and Commercial Brokers Association. He serves on the board of directors of NewLife Home Refurnishing, is a venture advisor for BUILD Greater Boston and is involved with the College of the Holy Cross President's Council. “This is a very exciting time for Transwestern, particularly in the Northeast, where we have witnessed tremendous growth,” McKenzie says. “We will continue to focus on client service while building the company roster with the type of team players that have earned Transwestern its valuable reputation among clients.”

Purpura stressed that McKensie will continue servicing his clients in a broker's capacity.

Earlier this month, McKenzie was involved in the lease expansion by Keurig Green Mountain Inc. at 201 Burlington Rd. in Bedford, MA. McKenzie and other colleagues at Transwestern | RBJ represented the building owner in that transaction.

He also helped broker the 44,365-square-foot lease renewal with Paychex at Northstone LLC's 100 Riverpark Drive office building in North Reading, MA on behalf of building owner Northstone LLC.