John Santora

Santora is a steadying force at one of the most volatile names in real estate.

After five decades at Cushman & Wakefield, where he rose from building engineer to top executive, Santora made a surprising career move in the summer of 2024: becoming CEO of WeWork. A lifelong Staten Islander and industry veteran known for his even-keeled leadership style, Santora took over the coworking company in June 2024, a year after it emerged from bankruptcy.

WeWork’s restructuring erased $4 billion in debt, cut dozens of leases, and reshaped hundreds more, but the firm’s image was still shadowed by the legacy of its ousted founder, Adam Neumann. Santora’s task is to rebuild trust and chart a sustainable path forward and shift away from the company’s past era of excess. 

He landed the job the old-fashioned way — by calling longtime friend and WeWork’s new majority owner, Anant Yardi, to ask how he could help. Colleagues describe Santora as a relationship-builder with deep industry credibility, a calm demeanor and a practical approach.

–Elizabeth Cryan