Colliers International Hosts Global Leadership Summit in Manhattan

SEATTLE and NEW YORK, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Colliers International's top executives representing offices worldwide converged in Manhattan last week to attend the organization's first annual Global Leadership Summit. The three-day event, which consisted of high-level strategy sessions and client meetings, culminated with a keynote speech by best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.

The renowned author of such best-selling books as "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" dazzled the standing-room only crowd at the Jazz at Lincoln Center theater. He offered his compelling and uncanny take on success, adversity and why the most highly effective organizations continually invest in talented people, create a culture that encourages experimentation, and understand that success is the result of sustained, diligent effort honing one's craft.

Douglas P. Frye, global CEO of Colliers International, who formally introduced Malcolm Gladwell to the audience, identified several parallels of thought leadership between the enterprising spirit of Colliers International and Malcolm Gladwell as a starkly original writer.

"Our Global Leadership Summit was a success on so many levels and in so many ways," Frye said. "And it was fitting that Malcolm Gladwell addressed our team and our clients, since our global enterprise truly reflects many of the entrepreneurial qualities that Malcolm so eloquently identified as critical ingredients of a successful organization. We have, and continue, to invest in our talented professionals; we embrace the notion that intelligent experimentation can lead to extraordinary outcomes; and, in fact, our business model defies industry convention. Our approach is counter-intuitive."

Counter-intuitive is an understatement. Unlike the vast majority of real estate firms that have fallen prey to the global recession and retrenched operations, Colliers International continues to expand throughout the world and, most recently, here in the United States. The organization's rebranding and investment campaign, part of a broader effort undertaken by its offices across the U.S. and around the globe, brings Colliers International real estate experts and service lines together under one banner as a single organization. In late April, Colliers International combined operations and global real estate services platforms with FirstService Real Estate Advisors, which also began operating as Colliers International, forming one of the world's largest commercial real estate services organizations.

"Our efforts towards becoming the market leader in the United States are beginning to pay dividends," said Dylan Taylor, Chief Executive Officer for Colliers International in the U.S. "Spending time with colleagues and clients from all over the world was an amazing opportunity to reflect on what we've done and  - - more importantly - - to decisively map out our future. It's safe to say that you'll be hearing a lot more about Colliers international over the next few years, and I'm excited to be a part of it."  

About Colliers International

Colliers International is the third largest commercial real estate services company in the world with 15,000 professionals operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries.  A subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV; TSX: FSV and FSV.PR.U), it focuses on accelerating success for its clients by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including global corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research.  The latest annual survey by the Lipsey Company ranked Colliers International as the second most recognized commercial real estate firm in the world.

SOURCE Colliers International