By Joshua Burd
An expert in the flexible office sector has joined Newmark, serving as a key addition to a brokerage team focused on clients in the technology and innovation fields.
Matt Himmelsbach joins the real estate services firm as a managing director, following an eight-year tenure at WeWork, bringing vast experience in the negotiation of flexible workplace solutions for both landlords and tenants, according to a news release. He will work in his new role alongside vice chairmen Elizabeth Hart and Ben Shapiro, leaders of Newmark’s technology and innovation practice group, to service clients and grow its offerings within the sector.
Himmelsbach is also the newest member of what the firm described as its growing international network of tech-focused commercial real estate professionals.
“Few professionals are as deeply immersed as Matt in the market for flexible office leases, which has experienced a wholesale rebirth since the start of the pandemic,” Hart said. “His addition to the Technology & Innovation Practice Group strengthens our team’s understanding of the next-generation workplace and serves as another example of Newmark’s commitment to developing innovative products and services to support our clients on a global scale.”
His arrival comes at a time when the demand for flexible leases is rapidly rising throughout the country, Newmark said. It also follows the firm’s acquisitions of international agile workspace providers Knotel and Deskeo, plus the launch of a portfolio optimization solution known as Optality.
“As we work with global corporate real estate occupiers, we are focused on servicing shifting market demands, such as hybrid or flexible office solutions,” Shapiro said. “Over the past two years, it has become clear that flexibility for a portion of a corporate real estate portfolio is not a wish, but a requirement. Matt’s well-established market intelligence and strong relationships across the industry will help us cultivate a variety of best practices to strengthen our service to our clients.”
The specialty group’s clients include those in the technology, advertising, media, information and telecom fields, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, the news release said. Its services include strategic planning and advisory in site selection, distributed office mapping, growth planning and workplace strategy, execution and acquisition, disposition, leasing, subleasing, financial analysis, project management and portfolio management.
Himmelsbach will leverage his vast experience advising both tenants and landlords, including more than 1,800 lease transactions during his time at WeWork, to help grow the practice.
“More than ever before, landlords and tenants need sound strategic advice as they look to maximize portfolio and workplace optimization,” Himmelsbach said. “This makes it an exciting time to join Newmark, which has a long history of identifying and capitalizing on trends within our industry. I look forward to helping the company derive additional value for clients across the nation.”
