Avison Young has named a former JLL executive to lead its U.S. capital markets unit at a time when signs of dealmaking have returned to the commercial real estate industry.
Marion Jones, a 20-plus-year industry veteran and most recently managing director of JLL’s capital markets team, joined Avison Young as principal and executive managing director, the Toronto-based company said Wednesday in a statement, adding Jones will be based in Avison Young’s New York office and serve on the firm’s U.S. executive committee.
Jones’ arrival comes after Avison Young’s former principal and chief operating officer of capital markets, Trish Connolly, left that position at least a year and a half ago, a company spokesperson told CoStar News, adding that Avison Young then reorganized its leadership structure before naming Jones to the new post.
Jones’ responsibilities include leading Avison Young’s U.S. capital markets strategy, driving growth and market share, and expanding its client base.
“Marion’s extensive background in both middle market and institutional arenas will fuel the next chapter of our capital markets operations at a time when clients are looking for guidance more so than ever,” Avison Young's principal and U.S. president, Harry Klaff, said in the statement.
In addition to her stint at JLL, Jones’ decades of commercial real estate experience in debt, equity and sales, market expansion, and executive growth strategies also included roles at Ackman-Ziff, Eastern Consolidated, and CBRE, Avison Young said.
“We will refine Avison Young’s capital markets strategy, expand our market share and foster collaboration across service lines,” Jones said, noting that she was attracted by Avison Young’s “bench of talent, innovative culture and superior attention to client service.”