Who Owns Cushman & Wakefield?
Cushman & Wakefield is owned by Cushman & Wakefield plc, a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE under the ticker CWK. The brand provides commercial real estate services including leasing brokerage, property management, capital markets and valuation advisory. Founded in 1917 in New York and headquartered in Chicago, it generated $9.4 billion in revenue in 2024 and employs approximately 52,000 people in about 60 countries.
Parent Company
Founded
1917
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns Cushman & Wakefield?
- Parent Company: Cushman & Wakefield plc
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: CWK
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cushman & Wakefield | Cushman & Wakefield plc | Brand division |
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History of Cushman & Wakefield
- Founded: 1917
- Founders: J. Clydesdale Cushman, Bernard Wakefield
J. Clydesdale Cushman and Bernard Wakefield founded the firm in New York City in 1917 as a real estate management company. It grew through the 20th century into a leading commercial brokerage and property services firm, expanding from its New York base into a national and then international presence.
Ownership changed hands through the decades: the Rockefeller Group owned it for much of the late 20th century before selling to Italian conglomerate IFIL in 2001, which sold to a TPG Capital-led investor group in 2007. The 2015 merger with DTZ created the modern global firm of competitive scale against CBRE and JLL.
The combined company went public on the NYSE in August 2018 under the ticker CWK. Under CEO Michelle MacKay it has focused on growing recurring services revenue and expanding valuation and advisory to reduce dependence on cyclical brokerage.
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About Cushman & Wakefield plc
What does Cushman & Wakefield own?
Cushman & Wakefield owns the Cushman & Wakefield brand and its global service platform covering brokerage, property management, valuation and advisory. It does not own separate consumer brands.
Is Cushman & Wakefield publicly traded?
Yes. Cushman & Wakefield trades on the NYSE under the ticker CWK. It went public in August 2018.
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Who founded Cushman & Wakefield?
J. Clydesdale Cushman and Bernard Wakefield founded the firm in New York City in 1917 as a real estate management company.
Where is Cushman & Wakefield headquartered?
Cushman & Wakefield is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It is legally a UK public limited company while operationally based in Chicago.
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Who owns Cushman & Wakefield?
Cushman & Wakefield is a widely held public company with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors hold most shares, and Michelle MacKay serves as CEO.
What is Cushman & Wakefield's revenue?
Cushman & Wakefield reported $9.4 billion in revenue for 2024 across leasing, capital markets, services, and valuation and advisory service lines.
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How many employees does Cushman & Wakefield have?
Cushman & Wakefield employs approximately 52,000 people across operations in about 60 countries.
- Founded: 1917
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: CWK
- Revenue: $9.4 billion (FY2024)
- Employees: Approximately 52,000
Where Is Cushman & Wakefield Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Cushman & Wakefield Categories & Tags
Cushman & Wakefield Recalls & Controversies
Cushman & Wakefield has not faced major product recalls or regulatory penalties. Its public controversies have been limited to industry-standard issues: litigation common to large brokerages, scrutiny over appraisal practices and conflicts in advisory work, and the antitrust questions that periodically surround the top-tier firms' market concentration.
The brand's regulatory standing is clean relative to its scale, with the primary reputational risks coming from cyclical commercial real estate exposure rather than ethical or legal failures.
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Cushman & Wakefield Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Century-old brand recognition in commercial real estate
- +Top-three global market position
- +Balanced service line mix across transactional and recurring revenue
- +Public company access to capital
- +Deep US market presence
Considerations
- -Third position behind larger CBRE and JLL
- -High exposure to cyclical transactional revenue
- -Structural office demand uncertainty
- -Debt from acquisition history
Frequently Asked Questions About Cushman & Wakefield
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Cushman & Wakefield
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cbre | USA | 1906 | Market leader | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Cushman & Wakefield competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Cushman & Wakefield
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Everleigh is privately owned, unlike Cushman & Wakefield which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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Marlowe is privately owned, unlike Cushman & Wakefield which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Cushman & Wakefield plc Stock Information
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