Ofer Cohen is stepping down as CEO of Brooklyn commercial brokerage TerraCRG and longtime employee Dan Marks will take his place.
Cohen, who founded the firm in 2008, will stay on as chairman. The two will continue to work closely together and sit two cubicles apart, Cohen said.
“This is just the way we feel like we can be the most effective,” Cohen said. “With Dan managing and running the company and me focusing on what I’m good at, which is more the strategic side, high-level relationships.”
The leadership shuffle comes as TerraCRG plans to double down on Brooklyn and expand its market share by hiring and increasing coverage throughout the borough. The 20-person firm plans to hire more than 15 new agents this year.
“We like moments of turbulence and uncertainty,” said Cohen, who started the firm during the Great Recession.”We see this as an opportunity to grow and gain market share and really get back at it.”
Marks joined the firm as an associate broker in 2011 and became a partner in 2016. He has worked with Cohen to advise property owners, family offices and institutions including ExxonMobil, Two Trees, Prologis and PMG, according to a press release.
“While market uncertainty is causing a pause for some of our competitors, our agile, consistent and focused approach enables us to take advantage of these conditions and expand our market share,” Marks said.
TerraCRG has carved out a niche by focusing solely on the Brooklyn market. The firm has handled over $3 billion in transactions in the borough.