Doug Middleton and Jack Stillwagon have left CBRE for one of its global competitors.

Middleton has joined Cushman & Wakefield to lead its institutional capital markets business in New York City while Stillwagon will serve as executive managing director. Both Middleton and Stillwagon start in their new roles today. 

An industry veteran, Middleton previously spent eight years at CBRE, most recently leading its Investment Properties Institutional Group, with Stillwagon working alongside him and focusing primarily on office, residential and industrial transactions. 

Now, the two will bring their combined experience to the table at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, collaborating with the brokerage’s teams nationally to further its business and capital markets reach. 

“New York is essential to Cushman & Wakefield’s institutional capital markets strategy,” Miles Treaster, president of Americas Capital Markets, said in a statement. “Doug and Jack bring deep transaction experience and client relationships to the firm. Their partnership will strengthen our New York capital markets presence and more effectively connect our regional clients with our national and global platform.” 

Middleton has executed billions of dollars of transactions over the years, including the sale of 450 Park Avenue to SL Green in April 2022 for $455 million and Sotheby’s $410 million sale of 1334 York Avenue to Weill Cornell Medicine in 2025. 

Prior to CBRE, Middleton was a director of investment sales at Eastdil Secured. Stillwagon joined CBRE in 2021, and previously held positions at Waterfall Properties and Atlantic Creek Real Estate Partners.

Middleton described his big move as an “exciting opportunity.” 

“The leadership here has cultivated an exceptional culture in New York City, providing my team and me with the support and empowerment needed to deliver top-tier results for our clients,” he said in a statement. “I’m eager to enter this next chapter of my career and contribute to expanding Cushman & Wakefield’s capital markets presence across the city.”

The role Middleton and Stillwagon are stepping into has largely been open since the Valentines Day departure of Adam Spies and Doug Harmon in February 2023 for Newmark. Now, with big, open shoes to fill, Middleton and Stillwagon will hit the ground running in an already busy quarter. 

“Doug and Jack are trusted advisers who consistently bring thoughtful, strategic thinking to the most complex New York transactions,” Todd Schwartz, Northeast regional president at C&W, said. “We are thrilled that this team recognized the strength of Cushman & Wakefield’s platform and the opportunity it provides for the next chapter of their careers, and we look forward to all they will accomplish here.”

Cathy Cunningham can be reached at ccunningham@commercialobserver.com and Mark Hallum can be reached at mhallum@commercialobserver.com.