CBRE’s Saddle Brook office at Park 80 West in Saddle Brook — Courtesy: CBRE
By Joshua Burd
CBRE has promoted veteran broker Jeffrey C. Babikian to vice chairman, marking the first time that an office leasing professional in New Jersey has achieved the title with the firm.
Babikian, who represents some of the state’s largest corporate occupiers, joined CBRE in 2003 with the company’s acquisition of Insignia Financial Group. He was one of the initial brokers hired when the Edward S. Gordon Co., which Insignia purchased in 1996, entered the New Jersey commercial real estate market in 1987 and has since been involved in many of the region’s most high-profile office leases.
As a vice chairman, he now holds the highest rank for advisory and transaction professionals with CBRE.
“Jeff is one of the industry’s most respected professionals, having built strong long-term relationships with high-profile occupiers, investment clients and landlords throughout the region,” said Jeffrey Hipschman, senior managing director of CBRE’s New Jersey operations. “We are honored to have Jeff as part of our team and congratulate him on this truly worthy promotion.”
During his tenure with CBRE, Babikian has consistently ranked as a top broker in New Jersey and has won industry awards such as “Broker of the Year” several times, according to a news release. He is a multiple Colbert Coldwell Circle award recipient, which CBRE presents to the company’s top 3 percent of brokers nationally.
Babikian is also a recipient and multiple-time nominee for NAIOP’s Deal of the Year Award and is regularly recognized as a top influencer by industry trade publications. His clients have included KPMG, Mercedes-Benz USA, NBCUniversal, The New York Giants and Volvo, among others.
Outside of CBRE, Babikian has contributed his time as co-chairman of Shelter Our Sisters, as a committee member of the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Center for Real Estate at Rutgers Business School, as an active consultant to the Bergen County Economic Development Corporation and as a former board director of the Ramsey Education Foundation.
