Avison Young hires JLL innovation team

Avison Young has appointed three researchers and product developers from JLL to lead a new innovation practice within the global property advisor.

John Sikaitis, Nick Guglietta and Carl Caputo will be based in Washington DC.

Sikaitis becomes a principal of Avison Young and chief innovation officer, a new role at Avison Young. At JLL, he was managing director of research and business development for part of the north-east US.

Guglietta becomes global practice lead for product development. He was previously research director in data visualization and analytics at JLL.

Caputo, a research director at JLL, takes the role of global practice lead in data science at Avison young.

Avison Young said in a statement: “They will be based in Washington, DC and will continue to work as a team to take leadership of, and responsibility for, guiding the firm’s clients, transaction advisors and leadership team around new ideas, processes and products that transform the commercial real estate industry.”

Mike Rose, chief executive officer of Avison Young, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome John, Nick and Carl to the Avison Young family as we further our efforts to bring best-in-class innovation and disruption to the commercial real estate industry.”

He added: “John, Nick and Carl’s industry experience, deep market expertise and bespoke collaborative approach with clients perfectly align with Avison Young’s strategic direction and our desire to find differentiated solutions for our clients’ property and business challenges. All three will play leading roles in the execution of data management, analytics, visualisation, client and business intelligence, technological-solution platforms and technology partnerships.”

Rose continued: “In this newly created role of CIO, John will be responsible for building strategy, enhancing processes and introducing products that position our clients effectively in the real estate market and drive our firm and its people to be more efficient and productive in their everyday efforts. Nick and Carl are also assuming new roles that cater to both our clients’ and advisors’ evolving businesses. Nick will focus on the exploration, assessment and implementation of innovative technological solutions to address opportunities across the commercial real estate industry. Carl will partner with our clients, transaction professionals, leadership team and researchers, as well as external service providers, to create a transformational data, analytics and advisory platform that guides the firm’s clients and future clients around the globe. We’re confident that John, Nick and Carl will be tremendous advocates for our clients and outstanding resources for our people. We’re also confident that this new team will reshape not only the trajectory of our firm, but the entire industry.”

Sikaitis brings 17 years of commercial real estate experience to Avison Young. Reporting to Martin Dockrill, Avison Young principal and global COO, Sikaitis will sit on the firm’s global executive committee and help guide the company’s overall aggressive growth strategy and strategic direction.

“We are extremely excited to join Avison Young at this critical time of industry evolution and future disruption to help fast-forward our clients’ objectives and our real estate advisors’ productivity,” said Sikaitis.

“We were attracted by Avison Young’s focus on always placing clients first and the firm’s ability to be deeply organized in its processes, smart and bold in its investment, and fast and nimble in its decision-making and service delivery. These factors provide the perfect foundation for our team and partners to experiment with ideas, processes and products that will redefine the commercial real estate industry’s landscape and composition.”