Effective immediately, Thakar becomes Chief Operating Officer, International Operations. In this new role, Thakar will be responsible for overseeing operations in Europe, Mexico and future locations outside the U.S. and Canada. His goals and objectives include providing support and direction for each country’s leadership team, building upon Avison Young’s international platform investments, and expanding the firm’s presence in additional geographies. Thakar, based in Chicago, joined Avison Young in 2008 as senior vice-president of corporate strategy.
“Our leadership team could not be more excited to welcome Hiren to this new role,” comments Rose. “Hiren joined Avison Young at the beginning of our rapid-growth phase in 2008. He was our first employee based outside of Canada and was instrumental in our expansion strategy’s development and execution. For the past nine years in North America and, more recently, on an international basis, he has partnered with managing directors to recruit top professionals, acquire other firms and build our global footprint. In addition, he has played a critical role in the company’s maturing capital structure.”
Rose continues: “As COO, International Operations, Hiren will continue to build the foundation that we have established, and continue to grow our operations in Europe, Mexico and beyond to serve our clients around the globe. He will co-ordinate the best practices that exist in every country and culture and we will incorporate the objectives of our clients, employees and other stakeholders outside of Canada and the U.S. Best practices exist everywhere and, as a truly global company, Avison Young will benefit from his experience growing the North American business, while maintaining the differentiated culture that Avison Young is known for.”
Thakar, who has 15 years of strategy and operations business experience primarily with Avison Young, is a member of the company’s executive committee and global corporate leadership team. During his nine years with the firm, he has defined its growth strategy and plan, including the initial consolidation of four companies previously operating as Avison Young and the subsequent expansion within Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
Prior to joining Avison Young, Thakar was a vice-president with Grubb & Ellis Company, where he focused on strategy and planning. Before then, he was a management consultant with Huron Consulting Group and Strategic Decisions Group, and worked in product development with Kraft Foods, Inc.
“When I started with Avison Young, the firm comprised 11 offices, all in Canada, with a well-established great culture and history of executing for clients,” says Thakar. “In the past nine years, we have worked with our Principals to expand our operations exponentially. I have been privileged to work with great individuals as we crafted and executed the growth strategy to establish the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. I’m excited to assume my new responsibilities as we continue to expand in Mexico and Europe and begin to introduce Avison Young’s collaborative culture, strategy and client services in new global markets.”
Thakar sits on the advisory board of advanced data analysis firm Megalytics. He advises and volunteers with the global scholarship organization North South Foundation. In addition, he was the recipient of Avison Young’s Chairman’s Award in 2010 for his contributions to the firm, and was recognized among Real Estate Forum’s “40 under 40” in 2012. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Master of Engineering from Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois.
Over the past nine years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 80 offices and from 300 to more than 2,400 real estate professionals across Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
Avison Young is the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,400 real estate professionals in 80 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties.
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