Savills has named industry veteran Mitti Liebersohn as chief executive of brokerage operations for the New York tri-state region, where Manhattan was one of its top-performing office leasing markets worldwide.
Liebersohn, who has been Savills’ chairman of New York brokerage, in his new role will work alongside David Goldstein, president of the tri-state region, to oversee financial performance and attract and retain top talent among his responsibilities, Savills said.
The hiring comes as Manhattan is one of the company’s strongest office markets with leasing volume last year rising more than 20%, according to Savills’ preliminary 2024 results reported Dec. 31. Savills isn't alone in seeing higher Manhattan office leasing. The market last year posted its best post-pandemic leasing volume, a 16% jump from 2023 on a square footage basis, according to a CoStar analysis.
“Our momentum in North America is undeniable, and the tri-state region remains core to that success,” said Janet Woods, president of Savills North America, in a statement. “Mitti’s appointment reflects our confidence in the market.”
In addition to overseeing brokerage operations, Liebersohn will play a key role in strengthening cross-market collaboration and supporting new business development efforts across offices, Savills said.
With over 40 years of experience, Liebersohn, before joining Savills in 2022, served as president and managing director of Avison Young’s New York office where it more than doubled in size and increased revenue by 200%, Savills said on its website. He was previously a vice chairman at JLL and Cushman & Wakefield.
He has overseen the leasing of millions of office square feet, representing billions of dollars in transaction value, Savills said, adding his clients have included numerous Fortune 500 companies, global institutions, and major property owners.
Among some of the major deals he’s worked on, he represented Santander Bank in a 160,000-square-foot relocation of its New York headquarters to 437 Madison Ave., Savills said. He also brokered on behalf of Deloitte in its 500,000-square-foot consolidation and relocation to 30 Rockefeller Plaza.