ABS Partners Announces Merger with John Brod and PBS Real Estate Team

NEW YORK, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ABS Partners Real Estate today announces the merger with PBS Real Estate.  John Brod and his team of professionals from PBS Real Estate has joined ABS Partners Real Estate, a leading New York - based real estate firm that provides advisory, brokerage and property management services. 

"We have watched PBS Real Estate since its inception and have enormous respect for the reputation, brand and results that they have achieved. We are delighted that John and his senior-level brokers, as well as key support people have merged with ABS Partners Real Estate to continue their legacy of best-in-class real estate solutions," commented Gregg Schenker, Co-Managing Partner and President of ABS Partners Real Estate. 

"The PBS team has worked with leading national and international retailers, well-regarded office clients in every aspect of business, as well as leading global hospitality companies, and prominent developers, landlords and REITs.  There are terrific synergies between our teams, our services and our clients," continued Mr. Schenker.

"We believe that there is a tremendous opportunity at ABS Partners Real Estate to utilize our unparalleled network of contacts and access to leading decision makers to broaden and deepen our relationships within the real estate community.  We share ABS's vision of building strong partnerships and expect others to join us who are equally enthusiastic about the future growth prospects of the combined company," said John Brod.

Select members of PBS Real Estate joining ABS Partners Real Estate include:

John Brod, a principal and founding partner of PBS Real Estate.  Mr. Brod's experience covers tenant and owner representation throughout New York City and other major U.S. cities. Since beginning his career at Edward S. Gordon in 1980, he has personally facilitated several billion dollars' worth of office and retail leases. In the past 15 years alone, he has been personally responsible for leasing more than 30 million square feet of commercial (office and retail) space in several of the most innovative transactions in New York City. He has been responsible for well over one million square feet of commercial office and retail leasing agency assignments.  Significant New York retail transactions closed by Brod and PBS Real Estate in 2012 included the DKNY flagship on Madison Avenue, the two (2) Joe Fresh flagships on Fifth Avenue, and the sale of the retail condo at 105 Wooster Street which has Room and Board as a tenant.

Robert Neborak, who holds a M.S. in Real Estate Finance from New York University and has represented both tenants and building owners in lease negotiations throughout Manhattan's commercial districts. Since joining PBS Real Estate, he has worked on numerous assignments involving complex real estate transactions. He handles the retail and office leasing at 7 West 22^nd Street, 75 Spring Street, and 30 Vesey Street, and was previously the leasing agent for 150 East 52^nd Street.  His tenant rep business includes technology companies, design firms, PR and advertising agencies, law firms and apparel businesses.  In addition, Mr. Neborak's responsibilities at PBS included financial modeling and analysis, strategic planning, and real estate investment analysis.  Prior to joining PBS, Mr. Neborak was a Senior Financial Analyst at Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc., where he was responsible for analyzing major leasing, sales, and acquisition transactions.

Toby Roberts, the creative director from PBS, who has developed integrated advertising campaigns encompassing print, interactive and direct mail. Toby does the conceptual development and design of custom branded pitch materials tailored to each client/prospect and has worked on high profile PBS clients such as Armani, Abercrombie & Fitch, Stuart Weitzman and Tom Ford.

Also joining ABS Partners Real Estate are Donna Papagianopoulos and Judy Donahue who have worked with Mr. Brod and his team for 27 and 15 years respectively.

In addition to PBS Real Estate staff:

Dr. Sam Chandan, Independent Advisor: Dr. Chandan has been an external advisor to John Brod at PBS Real Estate, assessing conditions in the US and European economies and real estate market conditions, and will continue as an independent advisor to ABS Partners Real Estate. Dr. Chandan is President and Chief Economist of Chandan Economics and Adjunct Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Amongst the commercial real estate industry's preeminent economists, Dr. Chandan has served as an advisor to a wide array of the the nation's banks and non‐bank lenders, securitized debt market participants, equity investors, developers, operators, and policy makers. His analysis of economic and real estate market conditions has appeared in hundreds of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Bloomberg.

About ABS Partners Real Estate

ABS Partners Real Estate is a premier New York-based real estate services firm delivering best-in-class landlord and tenant representation. Established by industry leaders with more than a century of collective experience, ABS is dedicated to building lasting real estate and professional partnerships. For more information, go to www.absre.com .

SOURCE ABS Partners Real Estate