Glenn Rufrano

A sudden departure, like that of Glenn Rufrano last week from his post as CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, yields a lot of speculation. Though both Rufrano and Cushman have remained hush-hush about his exit, the Wall Street Journal reported that the answer for the move may lie in his relationship with the brokerage’s Italian parent company, Exor SpA.

It’s unlikely that Exor was unhappy with Rufrano’s work, the Journal said, but there may have been friction as Exor required Cushman to pay it dividends, rather than continuing its historical practice of investing funds back into the brokerage. [more]

Cushman & Wakefield’s Steve Kohn and 444 West 55th Street

It’s a double play for Cushman & Wakefield, which arranged the sale of 444 West 55th Street, as well as $39 million in financing for the undisclosed buyer, the New York Observer reported.

The 100,000-square-foot property, which is located between Ninth and 10th avenues, is home to Cirkers Fine Art Storage and Logistics and Hutter Auction Galleries. [more]

22 River Terrace and Henry Elghanayan

Rockrose is aiming to unload 22 River Terrace, a 324-unit rental building in Battery Park City, Real Estate Weekly reported.

The 28-story property could be turned into condominiums immediately. If converted, the building would stand out as one of the few condos located on this waterfront area. [more]

From left: Glenn Rufrano and Carlo Sant’Albano

Glenn Rufrano is out as CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, according to a statement from the commercial real estate services firm this morning.

Carlo Barel di Sant’Albano, international operations chief, has been named “interim CEO,” the statement said. Rufrano will remain on staff “for a transitional period to assist the Board and the senior management team in ensuring a smooth transition,” per the statement from Cushman, and Sant’Albano will continue as chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Europe, Middle East and Africa operations. He officially joined the firm in 2011 from EXOR, the Italian investment company of the Agnelli family that owns Cushman. [more]

From left: 4 New York Plaza and Mort Zuckerman

The New York Daily News put half its 4 New York Plaza headquarters space on the sublease market, barely six months after Hurricane Sandy forced the newspaper to temporarily relocate to Midtown and New Jersey.

The newspaper’s brokerage firm, Cushman & Wakefield, listed for sublease the entire sixth floor, with 49,925 square feet, just over a week ago, data from CoStar Group show. The space is available in 30 days, the website says. [more]

Cushman & Wakefield CEO Glenn Rufrano and Toys “R” Us in Times Square

Toys “R” Us plans to vacate its signature 100,000-square-foot space in Times Square — Ferris wheel and all — by 2016, Crain’s reported. [more]

Isaac Toussie and Cushman & Wakefield’s Ted Stratigos

Long Island landowners Robert and Isaac Toussie are marketing more than 200 acres of vacant commercial and industrial land in Suffolk County, according to a release from Cushman & Wakefield, the brokerage marketing the property.

The parcels — which span the towns of Brookhaven and Islip — range in size from one acre to 73 acres. The sellers are offering the lots in a range of different stages of development, from straight land sales to build-to-suits. [more]

The Plaza Hotel

For $1.3 million, live in the “Loire Valley of Brooklyn” in this Crown Heights castle. Napster co-founder lives at the Plaza hotel for year and a half during townhouse renovation. MoMA revisiting decision to demolish American Folk Art Museum. Hidrock Realty’s foray into hotels turns heads. Workers start to fix Carroll Street Bridge in Brooklyn. Read these stories and more after the jump.

From left: Nat Rockett and Helen Hwang of Cushman & Wakefield and 151 Maiden Lane

A waterfront Financial District site — with no height restrictions on a possible development — has hit the market and will likely ask between $62 million and $75 million, The Real Deal has learned. [more]

1250 Broadway

Luxembourg-based office suite titan Regus has inked a 15,000-square-foot lease at 1250 Broadway, which is the company’s latest in a leasing streak, Crain’s reported. Rents at the space are in the $50s per square foot.

Regus has inked at least four deals recently, Crain’s said. One happened last month at 101 Sixth Avenue, where the company took 32,000 square feet. In the weeks leading to up that Tribeca deal, the company signed for more than 60,000 square feet at Brookfield Place in the Financial District. [more]