Cushman & Wakefield today announced John Elkann as Chairman of its Board of Directors effective immediately. Mr. Elkann is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EXOR, S.p.A., Cushman & Wakefield’s controlling shareholder, and Chairman of Fiat, S.p.A.
Edward C. Forst, Cushman & Wakefield’s President & Chief Executive Officer said, “We are all delighted to welcome John Elkann to the role of Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield. He brings with him significant international perspective and a record of dynamic leadership. He has also been a strong supporter of C&W since EXOR became our majority shareholder in 2007 and his appointment as Chairman will help accelerate the execution of our strategy as we drive toward the firm’s centennial in 2017.”
John Elkann said, “Cushman & Wakefield is one of EXOR’s largest investments and we are strongly committed to supporting its development, helping it to achieve its full potential as a premier global real estate firm. I look forward to working closely with Ed, his leadership team and the 16,000 professionals of C&W all around the world.”
In addition to serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EXOR and Chairman of Fiat S.p.A., where he has been serving as a board member since December 1997, Mr. Elkann is also Chairman of Giovanni Agnelli e C. Sapaz and Chairman of Editrice La Stampa Publishing Company. He is also a board member of CNH Industrial N.V., The Economist Group, News Corporation and Banca Leonardo.
Carlo Barel di Sant’Albano will be stepping down as Chairman to take on a greater operational role in the newly created position of International CEO, reporting to Mr. Forst. In addition to EMEA, his new responsibilities will include all business and client activities in Asia Pacific and South America.
Mr. Elkann is a member of the International Advisory Council of the Brookings Institution and a Trustee of The Museum of Modern Art. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Italian Aspen Institute and Vice Chairman of the Giovanni Agnelli Foundation.