Avison Young names Beth Phillips as Managing Director of Chicago office

Phillips joins as Principal, will leverage the firm’s platform and technology to enhance the firm’s presence throughout Chicagoland

Chicago, IL – Keith Lipton, Avison Young Principal and COO of U.S. Operations, today announced the appointment of Beth Phillips as Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm’s Chicago offices. Phillips brings more than 25 years of expertise, including a unique combination of public REIT and CRETech experience, delivering innovation to the commercial real estate industry through the creation of new technologies and services. She will begin in her role on October 26.

 “Chicago is one of the largest and most dynamic commercial real estate markets in the country and Beth brings a rare mix of knowledge across strategic planning, business development, sales, operations, and financial management to the Avison Young family,” said Lipton. “Under Beth’s leadership, we will build on the strong foundation in Chicago and continue to enhance our presence in the market to deliver shared economic, social and environmental value for our clients.”

Chicagoland is home to major transportation hubs, a strong talent pool, a diversified economy, highly desirable attractions and great natural resources. Avison Young’s Chicago team spans offices downtown and in Rosemont, offering a full suite of commercial real estate insights and services to owner, investor, occupier and developer clients. The Chicago agency leasing and management teams have grown their combined footprint to more than 9.3 million square feet since their inception; the Rosemont office and industrial leasing teams have grown their portfolio to more than 10 million square feet of class A office and premier industrial space; and Chicago’s capital markets team has completed more than $886 million in transactions in the last 5 years.

 “Despite the challenging pandemic we are all navigating, Chicago fundamentals are undeniable and will continue to attract the interest of developers, investors, occupiers and talent,” said Phillips. “Avison Young has built an all-star team of people who are leveraging the firm’s investment in leading technology, resources and innovation to create real and lasting value for clients. When I sat on the client side of the business, it was so important for our partners to proactively serve our needs and put us first - and I see this as an inherent part of the Avison Young DNA.” 

Phillips joins Avison Young from Stay Alfred where she was vice president of real estate. Her previous experience also includes serving as vice president of asset management at Equity Commonwealth and as COO of Leasable, a technology platform built for the commercial real estate industry.

Phillips will succeed Danny Nikitas, Principal, who will move into a new role leading Chicago’s agency leasing practice, recruiting new talent and building Avison Young’s client portfolio in this space. Nikitas has successfully overseen the growth of Avison Young’s Chicago business for the past six-plus years through the addition of top tier clients and talent to the organization; the move to lead Avison Young’s Chicago agency leasing practice returns him to his real estate transaction expertise.  As a well-known member of the Midwest real estate community over the past thirty years, he’s secured more than 500 lease transactions, totaling more than 4.5 million square feet for buildings including Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), John Hancock Center, Prudential Plaza and Citigroup Center.

“I am very excited about Beth joining us as she brings great technology, innovation and entrepreneurial experience, as well as for my own transition which brings me back to my roots,” Nikitas shared. “Avison Young’s evolution and growth means creative and consultative solutions for our clients that provide a powerful combination of long-view strategic smarts and the ability to execute in real time, which is more important now than ever.”