Avison Young’s Houston office principal and managing director recently announced the addition of two new principals to the Avison Young Houston Team: Harry Holmes and Rob Neblett.
Holmes and Neblett will immediately join Houston brokerage operations for the Canada-based company, according to MarketWatch. The focus for these two principals will be tenant representation and corporate services for Houston-based companies engaged in energy, legal, accounting and manufacturing services. Holmes and Neblett have also been appointed to Avison Young’s Texas Executive Committee.
“The addition of Harry and Rob in Texas represents a critical step in the ongoing growth of Avison Young’s U.S. operations,” says Earl Webb, Avison Young’s President, U.S. Operations. “Their outstanding tenant-representation service and relationships with oil and gas firms will help Avison Young integrate its North American services for energy companies, thus furthering our client-centric focus. These services for North American energy companies will also enable us to serve the oil and gas industry globally as we continue our expansion to Europe and Asia in the future.”
Harry Holmes
Holmes has been active in the real estate industry for the past 31 years, beginning as a top-producing agent with Coldwell Banker. He is coming immediately from Newmark, Knight, Frank (NKF) where he and Neblett served as co-Managing Principals of the firm’s Houston office. Holmes also worked previously as President of Houston Office Leasing Management Estate Services, a privately-held commercial real estate brokerage and management firm which he established in 1992.
“I am very excited about joining Avison Young and being part of a great organization that is primed to be a leader in our industry,” says Holmes. “The culture and people were the two biggest factors in my decision to join Avison Young. It is amazing how fast the company is growing, and I am very impressed with the number of high-quality people who are attracted to the company.”
Rob Neblett
Neblett, a 32-year real estate veteran, worked with Corporate Advisory Services for Transwestern Commercial Services in Houston as a Managing Director before coming to NKF in 2005. He also owned and operated R.K. Neblett Interests Inc. (NEBCO), working as a sole-practitioner in the tenant representation market. Neblett was named NKF’s National Broker of the Year in 2007.
“Avison Young’s growth in Houston and in North America is very impressive,” adds Neblett. “This is a unique opportunity for Harry and me to use our background and experience to work with the other Principals in helping to build the Texas region. Furthermore, Avison Young has leading offices in Calgary and Edmonton, which will provide our Houston-based energy clients with a valuable service platform.”
Avison Young, which was founded in 1978, is the largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company as well as the only Canadian-owned, principal-managed real estate brokerage firm in the country. Avison Young is headquartered in Toronto, with 25 offices across Canada and the United States.