As Regional President, Southwest, Robert Thornburgh leads Cushman & Wakefield’s business in much of the Western United States, including Southern California, Nevada, Phoenix, Colorado, Utah and Idaho. He oversees the strategic growth of the Southwest, including client service delivery, talent development and recruiting, and developing strong partnerships across our service lines. 

Previously, Robert served as the Chief Executive of SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), the world’s premier organization for industrial and office brokers with over 4,000 members. While at the helm of SIOR, Robert made a lasting impact by developing a strategic plan that improved member retention, increased membership and elevated brand recognition throughout the industry.  

Prior to SIOR, Robert served as President and CEO at Heger Industrial and continued on as Regional President, Brokerage, after the company’s merger with Kidder Matthews, where his deep industry knowledge and leadership experience helped expand the firm’s presence across the West Coast. 

Robert has been consistently recognized across the commercial real estate industry for his emphasis on innovation and passion to help others achieve their goals. He was honored as a “Best Boss in the Industry” by ALM Media in 2020, 2022 and 2024. He proudly holds 4 of the most respected designations within the commercial real estate industry—SIOR, CCIM, CPM and FRICS—a distinction held by less than 1 percent of all global commercial real estate practitioners.