CBRE Promotes John Morris to Lead U.S. and Canada Leasing, Names Chris Zubel to Head Americas Industrial Real Estate

CBRE has promoted two senior executives to lead its Americas leasing operations, the Dallas-based commercial real estate services firm announced April 27, 2026. John Morris has been named Group President of Leasing for CBRE's U.S. and Canada Advisory business, while Chris Zubel has been elevated to Executive Managing Director of Industrial & Logistics.

Morris Expands Role Beyond Industrial Real Estate

Morris, who has led CBRE's Americas Industrial & Logistics business since 2019, will now oversee leasing across the office, retail, life sciences, and healthcare sectors in addition to his prior industrial responsibilities. His seven-year tenure heading the industrial division included oversight of $73.6 billion in leasing and sales transactions in 2025 alone.

Before joining CBRE, Morris spent 13 years at Cushman & Wakefield, where he held the title of Executive Managing Director of Logistics and Industrial. In his new role, Morris succeeds Manish Kashyap, who has moved to an executive position within CBRE's Strategic Occupier Accounts group.

"Both John and Chris are proven operators with decades of experience in commercial real estate," said Chris Connelly, CBRE Executive Group President of Advisory Services in the U.S. and Canada. "They excel at connecting clients with the full platform of CBRE services — including supply chain, project management, location incentives, labor analytics and more — to produce the best outcomes. Our Leasing division will benefit from their past experience in the dynamic Industrial & Logistics sector."

Zubel Takes the Helm of CBRE's Industrial & Logistics Division

Zubel, a 23-year CBRE veteran, will oversee 840 industrial brokers in his new role. He joined CBRE in 2003 as an industrial broker in Chicago and has since held a series of senior leadership positions, including Executive Managing Director of Midwest Markets and, most recently, Executive Managing Director of Investor Services within the Industrial & Logistics division.

Leadership Shift Reflects Broader Leasing Strategy

The dual promotions represent a consolidation of leasing leadership under executives with deep roots in industrial real estate. By elevating Morris — whose track record was built overseeing one of the firm's highest-volume divisions — CBRE is signaling that industrial expertise will inform its approach across all leasing sectors, including office and retail.

CBRE's Advisory segment encompasses leasing, sales, debt origination, mortgage servicing, and valuations, while its broader platform includes facilities management, project management, and real estate investment services across more than 100 countries.

About CBRE

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE: CBRE) is headquartered in Dallas and is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. A Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, CBRE employs more than 155,000 people serving clients in more than 100 countries. The firm operates through four business segments: Advisory, Building Operations & Experience, Project Management, and Real Estate Investments.