CBRE Names Ajay Kalra Market Leader for Omaha, Expanding His Role to Cover Both Nebraska and Iowa

CBRE has appointed Ajay Kalra as Managing Director and Market Leader for its Omaha, Nebraska business, the firm announced July 21, expanding his existing responsibilities overseeing CBRE's Iowa operations. In the combined role, Kalra will oversee all day-to-day operations for the company's Advisory Services across both markets, including leasing, sales, valuations, and debt and structured finance across all property types.

Leadership Transition in Omaha

The appointment follows the transition of Bennett Ginsberg, who previously served as Omaha Market Leader, to a full-time producer role with CBRE. The move consolidates market leadership for Omaha and Iowa under a single executive while keeping Ginsberg's institutional knowledge active in the market in a revenue-generating capacity.

Jeff Kaiser, Executive Managing Director and a Midwest Regional Leader at CBRE, said the appointment reflects Kalra's track record since joining the firm. "Since joining CBRE, Ajay has earned tremendous respect across our organization and the broader business community through his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to clients," Kaiser said. "His energy, market insight, and team-first approach make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our efforts in Omaha. As we build on the strong foundation Bennett helped establish, Ajay will play a key role in deepening our capabilities and delivering the expertise our clients continue to demand."

Kalra's Background at CBRE

Kalra joined CBRE in 2024 as Managing Director and Market Leader for Iowa. During his tenure in that role, the firm said he drove significant growth across the Iowa market, strengthening CBRE's position through a collaborative leadership approach and a client-focused strategy.

"Under Bennett's leadership, CBRE has built an exceptional business and culture over many years, and I'm honored to step into this expanded role to further support our clients and drive growth," Kalra said. "I'm excited to partner with our outstanding team in Omaha and continue fostering the collaborative culture that has been central to the office's success."

Broader Market Context

The appointment comes as commercial real estate activity has been gaining momentum. Total commercial real estate investment volume rose 29% year over year at the end of 2025 and exceeded $171 billion in the fourth quarter alone. CBRE has projected a 16% rise in investment volume for 2026 and expects office leasing activity to increase approximately 4% to 5% during the year, reflecting improving fundamentals across the sector.

Against that backdrop, CBRE's decision to consolidate Omaha and Iowa under a single market leader with a mandate spanning leasing, capital markets, valuations, and structured finance reflects an effort to tighten coordination across service lines as transaction and leasing activity is expected to increase. The structure of the role — covering all property types and multiple advisory disciplines — suggests the firm is prioritizing integrated client coverage in the two markets.

About CBRE

CBRE is a commercial real estate services and investment firm with operations across advisory services, real estate investments, and real estate services. The firm's Omaha and Iowa operations are part of its broader Midwest regional business.

Sources: CBRE Press Release