Roger Burghdorf joins Avison Young in West Los Angeles

Highly regarded industry veteran will focus on retail leasing

Los Angeles, CA – Christopher Cooper, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company’s Southern California region, announced today the strategic hiring of industry veteran as a Senior Vice President in the company’s West Los Angeles office.

Burghdorf brings more than 35 years of commercial real estate experience to Avison Young. In his new role, he will focus on both landlord and tenant leasing for the retail sector, leveraging the many relationships that he has built over his successful career. He will also work closely with Avison Young Principal Stephanie Skrbin, one of the top retail brokers in Southern California, who is also based out of the West Los Angeles office.

“Roger brings a strategic, institutional perspective to our Southern California retail practice,” comments Jonathan Larsen, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm’s West Los Angeles office. “His expertise is invaluable and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him on board. He is a very important addition to our growing region and will provide best-in-class service to our current clients, as well as his longstanding relationships.”

Burghdorf has built a strong reputation in the retail sector, having worked with virtually every major national retailer across the country. His prior experience includes his role as Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Leasing for The Westfield Group. In that role, he was instrumental in expanding the company’s United States real estate portfolio from five to 73 regional malls – many of which rank among the most successful in the nation. His responsibilities at The Westfield Group included every aspect of leasing and operations for the national portfolio. Under Burghdorf’s leadership, The Westfield Group achieved the highest occupancy level for its real estate holdings of any major real estate developer nationwide. Prior to that, he served in senior executive positions with the May Centers/Centermark and Homart Development Company.

“Avison Young’s culture of collaboration and quality were the main attraction in joining the firm,” states Burghdorf. “I am looking forward to being a part of its entrepreneurial environment and international platform. The opportunity to team with Stephanie Skrbin, whom I have worked closely with on transactions over the past decade, will allow us to provide a dynamic and rare level of service to our clients.”

Skrbin adds: “Roger is a leader in the industry. With his extensive mall background and deep relationships with owners and retailers, we will enhance Avison Young’s regional mall leasing and national tenant-rep account activity, as well as work to reposition outdated assets. Ultimately, he will play a strategic role in growing our brand identity as we continue to expand our presence within the retail real estate sector.”

Burghdorf is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, in which he served for six years.