GVA taps UK boss, Michael Corbett, to lead company

Michael Corbett has been appointed president and chief executive officer of GVA Worldwide, a leading international provider of commercial real estate services.

Previously, Mr. Corbett served as vice chairman of GVA Worldwide and chief executive officer of London-based GVA Grimley.

Corbett assumes management of GVA Worldwide at a time of rapid growth for the 35-nation firm, which experienced a 29.4 percent increase in transaction volume over the past year.

"Michael Corbett is a proven industry leader with a remarkable record of achievement," said Michael T. Cohen chairman of GVA Worldwide. "He understands the dynamics of international real estate and is uniquely qualified to manage the steady expansion of a global real estate organization like GVA Worldwide. Michael Corbett was instrumental in conceiving GVA Worldwide's unique business model and has nurtured this company into a thriving global enterprise."

In his new position, effective June 1, Corbett will oversee implementation of the organization's goals and strategies and serve as GVA Worldwide's ambassador-at-large to existing and prospective partners, and other representatives of the global business community.

Corbett will encourage the growth of the company's ranks in targeted markets in North America and around the world. He will work to maximize business development opportunities and ensure that clients take maximum advantage of business relationships among the many national and regional industry leaders comprising GVA Worldwide, which completed $22 billion in transactions last year and manages more than 150 million square feet of property.

"GVA Worldwide's distinctive structure sets this firm apart by uniting a powerful consortium of global partners under a single entity and enabling members around the world to tap into a vast storehouse of talent and resources," said Corbett. "This provides a strong foundation for our member organizations to build upon, even while they maintain independence as industry leaders within their respective regions."

With Corbett's assumption of leadership at GVA Worldwide, the company becomes the first global real estate firm with a strong American presence to be led by a British president. Cohen said that this underscores GVA Worldwide's status as "a truly global organization."

Prior to assuming his new position, Corbett served as chief executive of GVA Grimley and most recently as executive chairman. During his ten-year tenure at the firm, he led a major expansion that propelled GVA Grimley to become one of the UK's top seven professional services firms and expanded its workforce to more than 1,000 people. Under Corbett's leadership, GVA Grimley increased gross fee revenues to $200 million annually, quadrupled fee income and increased net profits more than sevenfold.

GVA Grimley is a founding partner of GVA Worldwide, which marked its tenth anniversary last year. Corbett was an original board member of GVA Worldwide.