By Joshua Burd
A retail real estate executive with five decades of experience has returned to R.J. Brunelli & Co. after four years away from the firm.
R.J. Brunelli, which is based in Old Bridge, said Michael L. Murphy is back at the firm as a senior sales associate. He is initially focused on representing the firm’s food service and grocery clients in eastern Pennsylvania markets.
The New Hope, Pennsylvania, resident returns to the brokerage after four years as director, retail services for Cushman & Wakefield in Philadelphia, according to a news release. From 2006 to 2012, Murphy held what is now his current position with R. J. Brunelli, where he provided project management, landlord and tenant representation services.
Murphy has served in a variety of senior level positions at major shopping center and retail companies over five decades, the news release said. He began his career in 1972 as a mall marketing director with Ernest W. Hahn Inc. in San Diego, and went on to serve as marketing/operations manager, and subsequently general manager/leasing director for major malls in Utah, Virginia, Montana, and California.
From 1980 to 1989, he was senior vice president and director for Mrs. Fields’ Cookies in Park City, Utah, the news release said. In that role, he led all aspects of corporate marketing and store development during a period in which the chain grew from three to 700 locations in the United States and five foreign countries.
Murphy later held executive-level positions with Kravco Co. of King of Prussia, Pennyslvania, where he led all real estate and leasing activity for the developer’s portfolio of 26 regional and 14 community shopping centers comprising 35 million square feet,
Murphy graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in marketing/advertising/public relations, the news release said. He holds several designations from the International Council of Shopping Centers, including certified leasing specialist and certified shopping center manager.
