JLL Appoints Michael Colacino as CEO of Americas Leasing Advisory

JLL Taps Michael Colacino as CEO of Americas Leasing Advisory, John Gates to Assume Executive Chairman Role

JLL, a global leader in commercial real estate services, announced a significant leadership transition within its Americas Leasing Advisory business. Effective January 15, Michael Colacino has been appointed CEO of Americas Leasing Advisory, while John Gates will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, Americas Leasing Advisory. This strategic move is designed to drive continued growth and innovation within the firm’s leasing operations across the Americas.

Karen Brennan, CEO of JLL’s global Leasing Advisory business, highlighted the strategic importance of these appointments. “These appointments position our Americas leasing business for continued growth and innovation,” Brennan stated. “Michael’s proven leadership, strategic acumen, and technology-forward approach will drive the evolution of our business, while John’s transition to Executive Chairman allows us to leverage his market relationships and industry expertise.”

In his new capacity as Executive Chairman, Gates will focus on cultivating relationships with key occupier clients, strategic broker recruitment, overseeing operations in Mexico, and providing high-level strategic advisory services. During his tenure as CEO, Gates was instrumental in expanding JLL’s presence throughout the Americas, bolstering leasing capabilities in critical markets, and establishing the firm’s robust industrial and logistics business. He also championed JLL University, a highly regarded training initiative, and promoted the Champions of Excellence program, which recognizes significant employee contributions.

Gates expressed his pride in the team and the platform built over the past decade. “I’m incredibly proud of the best-in-class platform we’ve built over the last decade-plus, which includes an incredible team of leasing professionals across the Americas,” Gates commented. “This was an opportune time for me to transition to a role where I can dedicate more time to clients and help continue to source top-talent. I know that our business is in good hands with Michael and look forward to helping him achieve JLL’s next phase of growth.”

Colacino brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He joined JLL in 2023 as President of Tri-State Brokerage, bringing over three decades of commercial real estate expertise. His career includes leadership positions at Studley, where he played a key role in a management buyout and served as President until the firm’s acquisition by Savills. At Savills, he managed U.S. operations and sat on the Global Executive Board. He later founded the proptech investment firm Haiku Partners in 2019, followed by his roles as President and CEO at SquareFoot. His deep understanding of evolving client needs, competitive market dynamics, and expertise in data management, AI, and technology are expected to be pivotal in guiding the Americas leasing business through its next growth phase.

“I’m honored to lead our talented Americas leasing team and build on John’s tremendous success,” said Colacino. “With JLL’s exceptional people and our advanced technology platform and data analytics capabilities, we’re focused on insights that drive smarter real estate decisions and outstanding client results.”

Gates’ career began at The Staubach Company in 1990, and he joined JLL following its 2008 acquisition. He subsequently held significant leadership positions, including CEO of Markets for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

The transition aims for seamless collaboration between Gates and Colacino to ensure continued exceptional service delivery for JLL’s leasing clients across the Americas.

**About JLL**
For over 200 years, JLL (NYSE: JLL) has been a trusted partner in commercial real estate and investment management. The company assists clients in acquiring, developing, occupying, managing, and investing in a diverse range of properties. As a Fortune 500 company with substantial annual revenue and global operations spanning over 80 countries, JLL leverages its extensive network of over 113,000 employees to combine global reach with localized expertise. Guided by its mission to shape the future of real estate for a better world, JLL empowers its clients, people, and communities to “See a Brighter Way.” JLL is the brand name and registered trademark of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For more information, visit jll.com.