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Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) has expanded its Tampa, Fla., office by hiring two senior executives with comprehensive experience across sectors and services to help capture the local and state economic growth. Russell Sampson and John Esposito both join in a leadership role as senior managing directors.
“Tampa is a key Florida market that is on the upswing,” said Brett Hunsaker, executive vice president and regional managing director at NGKF. “Forecasts show the city will grow faster than the nation in 2015, with employment predicted to hit its peak 2007 levels later this year.”
Tampa’s gross metropolitan product is estimated to grow by 3.6 percent and employment to increase by 2.4 percent this year after a strong 2013 and 2014, according to a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Tampa’s robust office leasing in the fourth quarter also helped the region hit its highest year-to-date net absorption since the market peaked in 2005, according to NGKF research.
“The city’s growth is one of the major catalysts for bringing Russell and John on board,” Mr. Hunsaker said. “With their comprehensive background and leadership, our office will be able to take advantage of the positive economic momentum and the exciting changes happening in downtown.”
With 33 years of commercial real estate experience, Mr. Sampson has negotiated more than 8 million square feet of transactions, including office and industrial development, management, leasing and investment sales. At NGKF, he will specialize in office tenant representation. Mr. Sampson previously served as a senior vice president at DTZ. Before that, he was a senior managing director of brokerage services at Studley, where he worked on office and industrial business development throughout the state. He has also held management and leadership roles with Insignia/ESG, Cushman & Wakefield and Coldwell Banker. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Mr. Esposito brings 16 years of commercial real estate experience and focuses on tenant representation in office, industrial and manufacturing deals. He previously served as a commercial real estate consultant and a senior vice president at DTZ’s Tampa office. Prior to that, he helped lead the opening of Studley’s Tampa office and worked on behalf of clients across the state. He also was a vice president with Carter & Associates. Before transitioning to commercial real estate, Mr. Esposito worked in the securities and municipal finance business where he gained expertise in financial structuring. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.
Also joining the team are Bob Sampson and Andrew Bell as associates, and Susana Succo as a transactions specialist.
The additions of Mr. Sampson and Mr. Esposito come as Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik moves forward with his efforts to reinvent the city’s downtown. Last month, Mr. Vinik unveiled a $1 billion plan that included 3 million square feet of new development on the city’s waterfront, including a new medical school and heart institute for the University of South Florida, corporate headquarters, condos, hotels, shops and restaurants. The redeveloped downtown would generate $900 million in economic output, provide $35 million in annual tax revenue and add 3,700 jobs, according to Mr. Vinik’s estimates.
About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the world’s leading commercial real estate advisory firms. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently-owned offices, NGKF’s 12,000 professionals operate from more than 330 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.
With roots dating back to 1929, NGKF’s strong foundation makes it one of the most trusted names in commercial real estate. NGKF’s full-service platform comprises BGC’s real estate services segment, offering commercial real estate tenants, landlords, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing; capital markets services, including investment sales, debt placement, appraisal, and valuation services; commercial mortgage brokerage services; as well as corporate advisory services, consulting, project and development management, and property and corporate facilities management services. For further information, visit www.ngkf.com.
NGKF is a part of BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.