Dirk Hrobsky is an Executive Managing Director in Cushman & Wakefield’s Manhattan office with nearly 25 years as a leader in the sector. Hrobsky’s real estate career began at GVA Williams in 1995 out of an organic passion for the ever-changing New York City landscape, an evolution which he continues to be a student of to this day. He started out during the .com boom and garnered important experience in the burgeoning NYC tech and telco scene with a focus on occupier-only work. Clients have ranged from start-ups to large institutions, and they have entrusted Dirk with more than 8 million square feet of brokerage encompassing $2.3 billion of real estate transaction value.

Out of his belief in technology Dirk founded Square Foot Partners, a software platform built to find, analyze, negotiate and close deals, covering beginning-to-end transactional processes including contract management, proposal analysis, quantitative analysis, and lease/legal support through a host of tools built to help guide customers through an intuitive online exchange. Although too early for mass adoption, Hrobsky remained passionate about real estate data and technology and has mentored many real estate start-ups over the years.

In 2001 Dirk and his long time real estate partner, Chris Helgesen, accepted roles at a newcomer to NYC, Trammell Crow Company, where they worked growing their own practices as well as the office. The team broadened their experience with large corporate clients like McGraw Hill Companies, American Express, Cargil, and Zurich Insurance Group and gained a great appreciation for work with project management. Trammell Crow Company sold to CBRE where Dirk’s team continued to practice until they left for their next challenge, accepting the role of building and leading DTZ (formerly UGL) through its entrance into the NYC marketplace in 2008.

At DTZ, Dirk and his team embarked on what would become an eight-year build, winning key accounts such as The United Nations, IPG and Andersen Tax as well as wins in the reemerging tech sector with Yodle (now Web.com) and MongoDB. The team grew revenue and headcount many times over which cemented DTZ firmly in the NYC Marketplace as a top-tier contender. The sale of DTZ to TPG was a welcome exit to focus more on client work and forego the day-to-day task of building an operation.

Today, Dirk and team continue to work for a broad range of clients from finance to fin-tech to pure tech. Along with serving as a case-specific NYC expert for global investors and banks, Mr. Hrobsky participates in real estate-related panels and public interviews on an ongoing basis. He lives on the UES where he resides with his wife, three daughters and dog; is an avid cyclist all around town; and most enjoys playing tour guide for the many guests that come to the great city of New York.

Professional Affiliations