An executive known for being the first chief environmental strategist at software giant Microsoft is taking on a similar role at commercial real estate brokerage CBRE as companies across the globe work to make their operations more sustainable.
The world's biggest commercial real estate services firm named Robert Bernard, an executive with more than 20 years of environmental sustainability experience, as its new chief sustainability officer and senior vice president of client sustainability. In this new role, Bernard will drive strategies to strengthen sustainability services the Dallas-based real estate services firm is able to provide to clients.
He will also help Dallas-based CBRE achieve its own carbon-reduction and sustainability goals, the company said.
CBRE tapped Bernard for the position as real estate companies and clients have increased their environmental, social and governance, or ESG, commitments. These commitments, such as pledging to reduce carbon footprints, often require capital investments that can be tougher to make in a shaky economy.
Last fall, CBRE began cutting $400 million in costs, with a significant portion through layoffs, as it grappled with economic headwinds. Last week the firm reported its fourth-quarter earnings and said its capital markets business declined 46% in the fourth quarter from the same time in 2021 as debt and equity capital remained constrained.
In September 2021 CBRE itself pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, a step taken as a way for the firm to help do its part to address challenges posed by a warming planet.
'Outsized Opportunity'
“As the world’s largest commercial property manager, we have an outsized opportunity to influence sustainability across the built environment,” CBRE President and CEO Bob Sulentic said in a statement. “Rob’s background, technical expertise and leadership skills uniquely position him to lead our efforts and we are excited that he has chosen to join CBRE to advance our internal and client-focused sustainability initiatives.”
Bernard spent more than 15 years at Microsoft, where he spent more than a decade as chief environmental strategist and chief sustainability officer, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Most recently, Bernard served as managing director of private equity firm Commonwealth Equity Partners. He has also advised and consulted with National Geographic, Allbirds and Watsco.
With the built environment generating about 40% of the world's carbon emissions, Bernard said he looks forward to working with his new colleagues, customers and business partners to decarbonize buildings around the world.
Bernard earned an undergraduate degree in English from Columbia University. He also has an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
CBRE did not immediately respond to an interview request from CoStar News about how this role will fit into its larger organization.