Cushman & Wakefield has hired real estate finance leader Chris Bennett as head of London offices capital markets, a role he's set to start in 2026 as the Chicago-based firm expands its financing business.
Bennett is working at DekaBank as head of London branch and managing director. He has overseen all Deka’s commercial real estate lending activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and headed the branch since 2018, being involved in origination and execution of transactions, predominantly in London offices.
Cushman & Wakefield has been investing significantly in capital markets globally. In the United Kingdom, the firm has added senior capital markets hires across sectors this year, including James Dunne joining from Aberdeen as head of United Kingdom living, Rob Woods in logistics and industrial, and Chris Watt and Jack Lloyd in retail.
His Central London track record includes advising clients on acquisitions and refinancing opportunities across the City of London, Canary Wharf, King’s Cross and Mayfair, with tickets ranging from £50 million to £1 billion.
He joined Deka from Citigroup’s European CMBS team, where he was a vice president. The Chartered Surveyor and RICS Fellow has been on the board of directors of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council Europe since 2020, serving as chair in 2022.
Joining Cushman & Wakefield at the start of 2026, Bennett will succeed Martin Lay in the leadership role, with Lay becoming chairman, London offices capital markets.
Ben Cullen, head of offices United Kingdom, Cushman & Wakefield, said in a statement: “Chris is a key strategic hire for us, reflecting our ambitions in capital markets. Experienced, analytical and entrepreneurial, he complements the senior capital markets talent already in our ranks in London and enhances the support we provide to clients across the entire capital stack.”