CBRE Group, Inc.
Company History
CBRE History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1906 in Dallas, Texas
When was CBRE founded?
CBRE was founded in 1906 in Dallas, Texas by Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker, making it 120 years old.
- Founded
- 1906
- Founding place
- Dallas, Texas
- Founders
- Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker
- Headquarters today
- Dallas, Texas
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1906–2026)
- Current CEO
- Robert E. Sulentic
- Acquisitions
- 8
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Founding in San Francisco |
| 1989 | Management Buyout From Sears |
| 1998 | CB Richard Ellis Formed |
| 2003 | Insignia Financial Acquired |
| 2004 | Return to the NYSE |
| 2006 | Trammell Crow Acquisition |
| 2011 | ING Real Estate Investment Management Acquired |
| 2015 | Johnson Controls GWS Acquisition |
| 2021 | Turner & Townsend Majority Stake |
| 2024 | J&J Worldwide Services Acquisition |
| 2025 | Industrious, Pearce, and a New Segment |
| 2026 | Guidance Raised After Strong Q2 |
- Where was CBRE founded?
- CBRE was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1906.
- Who founded CBRE?
- CBRE was founded by Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker.
- When did CBRE start?
- CBRE was founded in 1906.
- How old is CBRE?
- CBRE is 120 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
CBRE traces its origins to San Francisco in 1906, after the earthquake and fires destroyed much of the city. Some brokers took advantage of property owners in the aftermath. Colbert Coldwell, a 23-year-old broker, founded a firm on a different principle: it would act only as an agent for its clients and would not buy or sell property for its own account. That reputation for integrity became the base on which CBRE was built.
Founders
Colbert Coldwell
Colbert Coldwell founded the business in San Francisco in 1906 (originally Tucker, Lynch & Coldwell) as the city rebuilt after the earthquake and fire. He built its reputation on acting for clients instead of trading property for the firm's own account. Arthur Banker joined in 1913, and the firm became Coldwell, Banker & Company, growing into a major West Coast brokerage. That firm's commercial business later became CB Commercial (1989), CB Richard Ellis (1998), and today's CBRE.
Arthur Banker
Arthur Banker became Colbert Coldwell's partner in 1913, and the firm took the name Coldwell, Banker & Company. The partnership expanded across California in the following decades and established the Coldwell Banker brand. Its commercial arm later became CBRE, while the residential Coldwell Banker brand is now owned by a separate company.
Key Milestones
Founding in San Francisco
Colbert Coldwell started a real estate brokerage in San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire; Arthur Banker joined in 1913 and the firm became Coldwell Banker.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgManagement Buyout From Sears
Coldwell Banker's commercial business was spun out of Sears in a management buyout and renamed CB Commercial.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCB Richard Ellis Formed
CB Commercial acquired Richard Ellis's international operations, creating CB Richard Ellis.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgInsignia Financial Acquired
CB Richard Ellis bought Insignia Financial Group in 2003.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgReturn to the NYSE
After a 2001 take-private and the 2003 Insignia Financial merger, CB Richard Ellis listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTrammell Crow Acquisition
CBRE acquired Trammell Crow Company for about $2.2 billion, adding development and corporate services capabilities.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgING Real Estate Investment Management Acquired
CBRE bought most of ING Group's real estate investment management business in 2011 for about $940 million.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJohnson Controls GWS Acquisition
CBRE bought Johnson Controls' Global Workplace Solutions business for about $1.475 billion, scaling its facilities management outsourcing.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTurner & Townsend Majority Stake
CBRE acquired a 60% stake in U.K.-based project and cost management firm Turner & Townsend.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJ&J Worldwide Services Acquisition
CBRE closed its $800 million cash purchase of federal facilities services provider J&J Worldwide Services, plus an earn-out of up to $250 million.
Source: ir.cbre.comIndustrious, Pearce, and a New Segment
CBRE acquired flexible-workspace operator Industrious, created the Building Operations & Experience segment, and bought Pearce Services for about $1.2 billion; full-year revenue reached a record $40.55 billion.
Source: ir.cbre.comGuidance Raised After Strong Q2
Q2 2026 revenue rose 16% to $11.23 billion and CBRE raised 2026 Core EPS guidance to $7.80-$7.90.
Source: nasdaq.comMajor Acquisitions
Trammell Crow Company
2006Add a major U.S. developer and corporate services platform so CBRE could develop, lease, and manage property for clients.
Johnson Controls Global Workplace Solutions (GWS)
2015Scale CBRE's facilities management outsourcing for large corporate occupiers.
FacilitySource
2018Add a technology-enabled facilities maintenance and repair platform for multi-site clients.
Turner & Townsend (60% stake)
2021Expand into global project, program, and cost management.
J&J Worldwide Services
2024Enter U.S. federal government facilities and mission-support services.
Industrious
2025Add a flexible workplace operator and create the Building Operations & Experience segment.
Pearce Services
2025Add technical services for digital and power infrastructure, including data centers and power generation assets.
Tenet Equity
2026Launch a triple-net-lease strategy at CBRE Investment Management.
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CBRE Company History FAQ
When was CBRE originally established and in response to what historic event?
CBRE was established on August 27, 1906, in San Francisco, California, by Colbert Coldwell under the name Tucker, Lynch & Coldwell to provide transparent, honest real estate rebuilding brokerage following the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
When did the firm become Coldwell, Banker & Company?
In 1913, Arthur Banker joined as a partner, and in 1920 the firm formally changed its name to Coldwell, Banker & Company, expanding across California during the 1920s to 1950s real estate boom.
When did CB Commercial execute its management buyout from Sears?
In 1989, following Sears' decision to divest its financial and real estate conglomerates, employees and institutional investors led a management buyout to form CB Commercial Real Estate Group, completing an IPO in 1996.
When was CB Richard Ellis formed through international merger?
In 1998, CB Commercial acquired Richard Ellis's international operations, forming CB Richard Ellis and creating a commercial real estate network spanning North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
When did CBRE complete its current listing on the New York Stock Exchange?
After an investor group including Blum Capital took it private in 2001 and it merged with Insignia Financial Group in 2003, CB Richard Ellis returned to the New York Stock Exchange in 2004 under the ticker CBRE.
When did CBRE acquire Trammell Crow Company and Johnson Controls GWS?
CBRE acquired Trammell Crow Company for $2.2 billion in December 2006 and acquired Johnson Controls' Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) business for $1.475 billion in September 2015, fundamentally cementing its global leadership in real estate development and facilities management.
When did CBRE relocate its global corporate headquarters to Dallas?
In October 2020, CBRE formally relocated its global corporate headquarters from Los Angeles, California, to Dallas, Texas, centralizing its executive operations within its largest operational hub.
What is CBRE's position in the global commercial real estate market today?
CBRE is the largest commercial real estate services firm in the world by revenue, reporting $40.55 billion in 2025 and more than 155,000 employees.
When was CBRE founded?
CBRE's earliest predecessor was founded in 1906 as Tucker, Lynch & Coldwell in the direct aftermath of the devastating San Francisco earthquake, explicitly created to bring honesty to real estate rebuilding efforts.
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