Colliers International Recruits Scott Coombs to Lead Pacific Northwest Operations

--Industry veteran drawn to organization's scalability, research and training--

SEATTLE, Sep. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In another strategic hire of the industry's best and brightest, Colliers International announced today that respected real estate veteran Scott Coombs has been recruited as the organization's Regional Managing Director, Northwest.

Based out of the Seattle office, Coombs will oversee management, recruitment and business development for all service lines in Colliers International offices throughout Washington, Oregon, Utah and Idaho.

"Scott Coombs is a dynamic leader with a mix of high-level management and hands-on transactional experience in brokerage, property management, acquisitions and development. He is ideally suited to bring our Pacific Northwest operations to the next level," said Dylan Taylor, Chief Executive Officer in the U.S. "Scott is also a great cultural fit with Colliers International. He is a team builder who shares our passion for real estate, professional integrity and service excellence."

Formerly the executive vice president of brokerage in the Seattle office of GVA Kidder Matthews, Coombs saw an opportunity to be part of an organization that is growing and adding resources while most of the industry retrenches.

"Colliers International is a leading global real estate services provider that has an extensive platform across multiple disciplines and encourages the type of team approach and collaboration that clients today are demanding.  Its recent transition from a network to centrally operated organization ideally positions it to serve existing clients and win new business," he said. "Most impressive to me is its Corporate Solutions group and its ability to offer all types of real estate solutions to clients with real estate needs around the country and the world.. Colliers International has the size, resources and professional talent to service clients on a local, regional, national and international level. "

Coombs also noted that Colliers International's specialty practice groups, including those focused on law firms, distressed assets and data centers, among many others, provides a level of expertise that few firms in the industry can claim.  Additionally, Colliers International's market leading research division, Coombs noted, goes far beyond the industry standard of data gathering and market reports to include White Papers on topics of vital importance, including big box retail, and port city activity, to name just two.  

Further, Coombs is an enthusiastic supporter of Colliers University, the organization's proprietary, in-house training program. "Colliers University is unlike any other real estate industry educational system," Coombs said. "It provides a layered program that develops business skills, but also focuses on behavioral coaching and human interaction."

A recent analysis showed that salespeople who took five or more Colliers University core courses increased their revenue by an average of 54 percent per year, more than double the average annual increase for salespeople who took no core courses.

Throughout his career, Coombs has held senior management positions with several of the area's prominent real estate companies, including Harsch Investment Properties, The Koll Company, Spieker Properties, Unicco and Equity Office Properties Trust. He began his real estate brokerage career with CB Richard Ellis, and then held the position of Vice President and Branch Manager of Colliers International's Bellevue office for eight years.

A 1980 graduate of the University of Washington, Coombs has served as a Director for numerous organizations including The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, the Bellevue Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Washington State Chapter of NAIOP. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Brokers Association, and the Robert Vasen Foundation. Coombs is also active in the Building Owners and Managers Association and Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).

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