CBRE, a global real estate consulting firm, has announced four key appointments in the strategic advisory and valuations service line at its Dubai office.

As a leading provider of full-range real estate services to an array of businesses and government entities, CBRE’s new hires - Michael Heitmann, Daniel McCulloch, Emily Sturgis and Gabriella De La Torre - will further help expand expertise in its advisory function, supporting its growing footprint across the Middle East region, said a statement from CBRE.

The strategic advisory team covers a cross-section of asset classes and provides both retail leasing and consultancy capabilities along with a market research function to synergistically support development evaluations for CBRE’s clients, it added.

Heitmann, an industry veteran with 20 years of experience, has been named the senior director who will oversee operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

He has considerable real estate experience across the commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, and industrial classes.

As a senior industry figure, regular panelist and moderator at industry conferences, Heitmann will help the firm strengthen its business contacts through his strong, well-established network in the region and beyond, said a statement from CBRE.

McCulloch also joins the strategic advisory team as a director and brings not only regional expertise, but also insights from working in the European and Asian markets.

He comes from Deloitte where he spent over a decade, most recently leading their Middle East valuation assurance function.

McCulloch specialises in valuations and development advisory and has undertaken transactional due diligence roles for major corporate transactions in the region.

His Middle East valuation expertise covers the vast majority of asset classes and ranges from single assets to city-scale master-planned schemes.

Sturgis, who brings with her more than six years of professional experience in commercial property, has been appointed as an associate director within the strategic advisory team.

Forming an integral part of the retail team, she will support the department in retail consultancy across the Middle East region.

Sturgis has significant experience working on exclusive loan security valuations on behalf of banks, investors, financial institutions, equity funds and developers.

La Torre too joins as an associate director in the strategic advisory team. Her experience advising government entities, developers and investors across the Middle East, will best position her to lead a wide range of consulting and advisory assignments.

Lauding the appointments, Nick Maclean, the managing director of CBRE Middle East, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Heitmann, McCulloch, Sturgis and La Torre to our team. Their combined wealth of knowledge and expertise will further strengthen our capabilities in the region and cement our position as the region’s leading real estate advisor."

"These appointments will continue to enrich our service line offerings and enable us to drive exceptional results for our clients," he added.

CBRE operates in all the GCC countries, as well as Morocco, Egypt and Turkey with over 500 employees and supported by an international network of 75,000 colleagues and 92 associates.

The firm offers a wide range of services across research and consulting, advisory and transactions, residential, asset services, global corporate services and building consultancy.-TradeArabia News Service