Jones Lang LaSalle Names New CEO for Americas

Lauralee Martin, currently JLL's chief operating and financial officer, will succeed Peter Roberts as CEO, Americas. Roberts was named to the newly created position of chief strategy officer. The changes will take effect January 1, 2013.

Peter Roberts, Jones Lang LaSalle's chief executive officer for the Americas, will assume a new role as chief strategy officer. He will be succeeded by the firm's current chief operating and financial officer, Lauralee Martin.

Roberts has served as CEO of the firm's largest business unit for the past 10 years. The two executives will assume their new roles at year-end.

Martin joined the firm as chief financial officer in 2002 after leadership stints with Heller Financial and GE Capital Corp. She took on the additional position of chief operating officer in 2005 and is credited with maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet through the recent recession. She also helped build the firm's Energy and Sustainability Services business and structured acquisitions.

Jones Lang LaSalle's CEO Colin Dyer said Martin's experience and "quick and decisive approach" make her uniquely qualified to lead the firm's Americas unit.

"At a time when our business is increasingly characterized by the need for clarity and speed, she will focus the Americas on driving client services, increasing productivity and investing in our people," Dyer said in a statement announcing the changes.

Jones Lang LaSalle will conduct a search for a new CFO, with Martin keeping those responsibilities until a replacement is found.

The changes at Jones Lang LaSalle follow leadership transitions at other major commercial real estate service providers. In May, Brett White, the longtime chief executive of CBRE Group, announced he would step down at the end of this year. He will be succeeded by Robert "Bob" Sulentic, a longtime Trammell Crow executive who currently serves as CBRE’s president.

Also, Joseph Stettinius, Jr., recently took the reins as CEO of Cassidy Turley. Stettinius, who served as president of Cassidy Turley since the company's inception, succeeded the firm's first CEO, Mark Burkhart, who serves as an advisor to the company.