CBRE Launches New Electric Vehicles Service Line to Support Companies Through the End to End EV Charging Infrastructure Life Cycle

CBRE today announced the launch of a new global service line that advises clients on establishing their electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including advising on EV-charging strategy, identifying locations for charging sites, planning and installation of EV-charging infrastructure and providing overall program management and ongoing maintenance.

“The ongoing transition of the auto industry—and, by extension, society—to EVs represents one of the most significant evolutions of transportation in many decades. With this new service line, we have assembled the right leaders to harness CBRE’s deep and expanding expertise in EVs to advise innovative clients on their rollouts,” said Don Leeke, CBRE’s Global President of GWS Sales & Solutions who oversees the EV service line.

CBRE has promoted Scott Howard, a veteran of 25 years of real estate services, to lead the EV service line as Executive Managing Director. In his new role, he will focus on aligning the service line’s integrated business strategy, identifying strategic investments and resource requirements, and expanding its capabilities to meet the future needs of clients. He will also lead the unit’s work with EV-network operators, governments and vendors.

Mr. Howard, who has been with CBRE for 16 years, most recently served as a Global Alliance Director for technology clients in the company’s Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) division. In his previous roles at CBRE, Mr. Howard has led rapid global expansion programs consisting of multiple services to help clients best optimize and manage their real estate portfolios. In his new role, Mr. Howard will coordinate the full breadth of CBRE’s global services to guide clients in the burgeoning EV market.

Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Howard held leadership positions with Deloitte and Equis.

In addition, CBRE has appointed the following leaders to key positions in the EV service line:

• Mark Kerstens has joined CBRE as Product Lead for EV Charging. In his new role, Mr. Kerstens is responsible for the availability of globally consistent, market leading product offerings across the entire EV life cycle for clients. This includes identifying strategic charging locations, designing and constructing charging locations, procuring and maintaining the charging hardware, and providing ongoing operations and maintenance support. He has spent the past 15 years in renewable energy and electric mobility, including more than five years focused on EV charging at EV infrastructure company ChargePoint, EV manufacturer Rivian and others.
• Jim Hurless has been promoted to Real Estate EV Leader in CBRE’s Advisory & Transaction Services business. Based in Dallas, Mr. Hurless leads CBRE’s work in advising companies on analyzing, finding and acquiring EV charging sites. This entails working closely with his division’s EV clients and resources across the globe. Mr. Hurless is a veteran of more than 20 years in commercial real estate, facilities and large infrastructure rollouts.

“By connecting CBRE’s end-to-end capabilities and deep insights across business lines, we can deliver transformative and differentiated EV solutions for our clients,” said Manish Kashyap, CBRE’s Global President of Advisory & Transaction Services. “From Advisory & Transactions expertise in location intelligence, our relationship network and specific transaction management expertise to GWS’s operational excellence across planning, installation and on-going maintenance, CBRE is uniquely positioned to serve clients in their energy transition.”