Denise Dexter Joins CBRE as Charlotte Market Leader Amid Southeast Leadership Realignment

CBRE has named Denise Dexter Senior Managing Director and Charlotte Market Leader, the firm announced Sept. 14, installing a veteran commercial real estate executive at the helm of one of the Southeast's more active growth markets.

Dexter succeeds Brett Gray, who has assumed an expanded role as Executive Managing Director, Atlanta and the Carolinas. Now based in Atlanta, Gray serves on that city's leadership team alongside President John Ferguson while retaining managerial oversight of the Carolinas. Dexter will report to Gray.

A Cascading Leadership Transition Across the Southeast

The appointment is part of a broader leadership realignment at CBRE across the Southeast. Gray's move to Atlanta is connected to the planned retirement of David Lanier, the firm's long-tenured senior managing director in Atlanta, at the end of 2026. Gray is expected to relocate from Charlotte to Atlanta in January 2027, though his involvement with the Atlanta leadership team began immediately upon the announcement. That timeline created the need for a dedicated day-to-day operator in Charlotte ahead of the physical transition.

In her new role, Dexter will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for all Advisory lines of business in Charlotte, including leasing, sales, valuations, and debt and structured finance across all property types. CBRE's Charlotte office is located at 1120 South Tryon Street, Suite 200.

"Adding Denise as our market leader in Charlotte, one of the Southeast's premier growth markets, is a tremendous win," Gray said. "Her deep understanding of the market, strong community relationships, and proven leadership experience position her to make an immediate impact. Denise has consistently helped clients navigate complex real estate and business decisions while building high-performing teams, and we are excited about the growth she will help drive across Charlotte and the region."

Dexter's Background: Brokerage, Operations, and Project Management

Dexter joins CBRE from JLL, where she held several senior leadership positions, including Executive Director of Southeast Brokerage and Chief Operating Officer for multiple markets spanning the Carolinas, East, and Central regions, with a primary focus on the strategic growth of the Leasing Advisory business. Most recently, she served as Executive Managing Director within JLL's Project and Development Services business.

Prior to JLL, Dexter spent more than a decade with Lincoln Property Company in property management, asset management, and leadership roles.

That combination of brokerage leadership, COO-level operations experience, and project and development services aligns with CBRE's Advisory Services model, which integrates leasing, sales, valuations, debt and structured finance, property management, and project management under a single platform. Her prior focus on Southeast brokerage growth also positions her to navigate regional demand patterns across Charlotte, the broader Carolinas, and adjacent markets.

"CBRE has built an exceptional business in Charlotte, supported by an outstanding team and an industry-leading platform," Dexter said. "Joining the firm was an easy decision, and I'm excited to partner with our professionals and clients as we continue to build on that success, accelerate growth, and capitalize on the tremendous opportunities across the Charlotte market."

Timing Reflects a Strong Leasing Cycle for CBRE's Advisory Business

The appointment comes as CBRE's Advisory Services segment is posting significant revenue growth. In the second quarter of 2026, the firm reported global leasing revenue up 24% year-over-year, with U.S. leasing revenue also rising 24%, led by office leasing up 29% and industrial leasing up 17%. Advisory Services revenue overall grew 18% in the quarter, driven by accelerated leasing activity and continued strength in sales. CBRE raised its full-year 2026 core earnings-per-share outlook to a range of $7.80 to $7.90, implying approximately 23% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.

For full-year 2025, global leasing revenue rose 15.5%, with U.S. leasing up 16.1%, driven by industrial, data center, and office demand. Advisory leasing revenue reached approximately $4.5 billion, up from roughly $3.9 billion in 2024.

Charlotte sits within that broader leasing expansion as an active node for office and industrial activity in the Southeast. Installing a dedicated market leader with deep local roots and regional brokerage experience reflects the firm's effort to capture local demand directly rather than managing Charlotte as a secondary priority within a larger Carolinas or Atlanta-focused structure.

CBRE Deepens Its Southeast Platform

With Gray's expanded mandate linking Charlotte and the Carolinas to Atlanta's leadership infrastructure, and Dexter taking over day-to-day operations in Charlotte, CBRE is reinforcing its Southeast advisory platform at a moment when the region is drawing sustained commercial real estate activity across multiple property types.

Dexter's hire from a direct competitor underscores the competitive dynamics at play in the Charlotte market, where firms are actively recruiting operators with both local market knowledge and the operational depth to manage multidisciplinary advisory businesses.

Sources:
CBRE Press Release: Denise Dexter Named CBRE Charlotte Market Leader