CBRE acquires UK retail consultants CWM

Founded in 1992, CWM advises more than 60 retail brands in the UK, including Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, as well as shopping center and travel retail leasing work at Edinburgh St James, the O2, Borough Yards, and more.

Its services include strategic advice to retailers and landlords, high street agency, shopping center leasing, retail lease management and retail professional services. It also has teams focused on restaurants, leisure, outlet, and transport hubs. 

Upon closing, the full CWM team will operate as part of CBRE’s UK Retail business, trading under the CBRE brand and operating from CBRE’s newly refurbished UK headquarters at Henrietta House, W1. Scott Murdoch, Managing Partner of CWM, will be appointed Chairman of UK Retail, working closely with Rhodri Davies, CBRE’s Head of UK Retail. 

Ciaran Bird, Divisional President, Advisory Services, CEO UK & Ireland commented: “We are anticipating a significant rebound in retail market activity as the economy improves as well as the continued large-scale repositioning of retail real estate as retailers adapt their offering to meet changing consumer demands. Combining CWM’s team alongside our retail specialists will ensure can provide clients with the very best strategic consultancy advice.”

Scott Murdoch, Managing Partner, CWM, added: “We are already seeing a significant bricks-and-mortar bounce back in the retail and leisure market in the wake of the pandemic, and whilst the retail landscape has changed profoundly, it is now universally accepted that retail standalone store representation is an essential part of this multi-channel world we live in, and that it is likely this will always be the case. We want to be at the vanguard of this change and provide the best-in-class advice.”