Cresa

What Cresa does

Cresa is a Chicago-headquartered, privately held commercial real estate advisory firm founded in 1993 that exclusively represents corporate tenants and occupiers. The firm employs 1,300+ professionals across 55+ offices in North America and serves more than 2,400 corporate clients. Cresa's core service lines include tenant representation and transaction management (commission-based fees on lease negotiations, acquisitions, and dispositions), project and program management (professional service fees for fit-out, construction oversight, and relocation), workplace strategy, and supply chain/industrial consulting. The firm serves a diversified enterprise client base across corporate offices, industrial occupiers, retail brands, healthcare providers, life sciences, nonprofits, government contractors, technology companies, law firms, and data center operators.

Cresa's product ecosystem is anchored by Cresa Core, an AI-powered commercial real estate intelligence platform launched in June 2026 that unifies portfolio strategy, site selection, benchmarking, transaction management, and portfolio optimization on a single enterprise data layer. Acquired technology platforms augment this stack: ManagePath and Visual Manager (from the Fischer acquisition, October 2025) handle corporate account and visual portfolio management, Bluechip Insights (acquired November 2025) provides demographic, incentive, labor, and AI-powered location analytics, and Agile Work Evolutions (acquired January 2022) delivers workplace strategy and hybrid-work implementation tooling. Cresa Core applies predictive analytics, recommendation engines, and natural language processing for scenario modeling and report generation.

The revenue model blends transaction-based commissions on completed deals with recurring professional services fees and, increasingly, technology-platform subscriptions tied to multi-year enterprise engagements. The firm executes an aggressive acquisition-driven growth strategy, having completed approximately seven acquisitions in two years, supported by a $52.7 million minority investment from Alaris Equity Partners in October 2025. A new senior leadership team — including CEO Ray Anderson (ex-EY-Parthenon, appointed February 2026) and President of Markets Julie Northcutt-Dunn (ex-Colliers, appointed June 2026) — is leading the next phase of organic growth, geographic expansion, and platform consolidation.

Name

Cresa

Legal name

Cresa LLC

Website

https://cresa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cresa is a Chicago-based, privately held commercial real estate advisory firm founded in 1993 that exclusively represents corporate tenants and occupiers. With 1,300+ professionals across 55+ offices, it delivers tenant representation, project management, and the Cresa Core AI platform to 2,400+ enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Advisory

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Capital Markets Advisory (Debt/Equity Placement, Refinancing) (BPAJANAE)

Keywords

• Tenant representation
• Occupier advisory
• Corporate real estate
• Commercial real estate services
• Lease portfolio management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tenant Representation & Transaction Management: Core revenue stream from representing office and industrial occupiers in lease negotiations, acquisitions, and dispositions. The firm earns commission-based fees on completed transactions.
2. Project Management Services: Portfolio Program Management, Workplace Consulting, Capital Project Management, and Transition and Relocation Management services. Revenue generated through professional service fees for managing construction, fit-out, and relocation projects.
3. Supply Chain & Industrial Consulting: Data-driven consulting services including supply chain consulting, distribution network analytics, labor analytics, and location strategy that support industrial real estate decisions.
4. Strategy & Analytics: Data analytics and consulting services providing demographic insights, incentive opportunities, real-time labor intelligence, and AI-powered location analysis for portfolio planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cresa is a global commercial real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants and occupiers, never landlords or sellers, removing conflict of interest from transactions. The firm delivers fully integrated real estate solutions including transaction management, project management, workplace strategy, portfolio optimization, site selection, and supply chain consulting. Cresa's services are powered by Cresa Core, an AI-powered commercial real estate intelligence platform that centralizes portfolio data, benchmarking, and analytics for corporate occupiers.

Product overview

Cresa is a commercial real estate advisory firm that operates as an occupier-only platform, offering a unified product ecosystem centered on Cresa Core, an AI-powered technology platform. Cresa Core integrates portfolio strategy, site selection, benchmarking, transaction management, and portfolio optimization. The portfolio also includes acquired technology platforms: ManagePath and Visual Manager (from Fischer acquisition) for corporate account management, and Bluechip Insights (data analytics). The firm has expanded through multiple acquisitions including Agile Work Evolutions (workplace strategy), PPM (project management), Fischer (advisory), and various regional tenant representation firms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cresa Core: AI-powered commercial real estate intelligence platform for occupiers that centralizes portfolio data, optimizes real estate strategy, and enables data-driven decisions
• ManagePath
• Visual Manager

Products and services

• Cresa Core AI-powered commercial real estate intelligence platform built for occupiers that centralizes portfolio strategy, site selection, benchmarking, transaction management, and portfolio optimization into one connected system. Provides enterprise-grade AI and real-time analytics to help corporate occupiers evaluate scenarios, reduce occupancy costs, and make faster real estate decisions.
• Tenant Representation and Transaction Management Core advisory service representing corporate tenants and occupiers exclusively in commercial real estate lease negotiations, site selection, acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio transactions. Commission-based service for office, industrial, retail, healthcare, life sciences, and data center occupiers.
• Project Management Services Portfolio program management, workplace consulting, capital project management, and transition and relocation management services for corporate occupiers. Manages construction, fit-out, and relocation projects through professional service fees, with a 280+ person team across 35 markets.
• Supply Chain and Industrial Consulting Data-driven consulting services including supply chain consulting, distribution network analytics, labor analytics, and location strategy that support industrial real estate decisions. Includes business intelligence dashboards via Vālo Technology for industrial clients.
• Strategy and Analytics Services Data analytics and consulting services providing demographic insights, incentive opportunities, real-time labor intelligence, and AI-powered location analysis for portfolio planning. Delivered through the Bluechip Insights analytics platform acquired by Cresa in November 2025.
• Workplace Strategy Services Workplace strategy and implementation consulting for organizations navigating hybrid and remote work models. Includes flexible and responsive occupancy solutions delivered through the Agile Work Evolutions (AWE) technology acquired in 2022.
• Data Center Capital Markets Advisory Capital markets advisory and structured finance services for data center operators, hyperscalers, and technology companies requiring data center space to meet AI-driven demand. Includes acquisition, capital structuring, and site selection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lease savings of 10%-30% typically achieved through tenant representation negotiation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• AssetBuiltcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Cresa announced a real estate partnership with AssetBuilt, a full-service industrial asset disposition and advisory firm backed by 200+ years of combined expertise. The partnership supports EV manufacturing facility and clean energy projects.
• TMX TransformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Cresa partnered with TMX Transform to support Hasbro's new 600,000 square foot distribution center in Midway, Georgia. Cresa led lease negotiations while TMX Transform managed the supply chain transition and transition logistics.
• Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 February 2026Cresa and Savills represented the tenant (Lucid Private Offices) while JLL represented the landlord in the Nashville transaction at 1801 West End Avenue.
• EY (Ernst & Young)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Cresa is a National Sponsor of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program, recognizing and celebrating entrepreneurs who contribute to business innovation. The partnership aligns with Cresa's entrepreneurial culture and provides networking and mentorship opportunities within the entrepreneurial community.
• SavillsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCresa partnered with Savills to represent tenant Lucid Private Offices in Nashville coworking location transaction. Cresa and Savills represented the tenant side.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Savills: International real estate services firm with a notable occupier-focused practice. Cresa and Savills partnered to represent tenant Lucid Private Offices in Nashville, showing direct cooperation and competition in occupier mandates.
• NAI Global: Global network of independently owned commercial real estate brokerage firms offering tenant representation, property management, and advisory. Comparable to Cresa as a competing network/platform serving corporate occupiers.
• Avison Young: Global CRE services firm with strong occupier representation and principal-led brokerage model. Cresa hired Dave Sawdey from Avison Young, and both firms compete for enterprise occupier mandates across North America.

Regional players

• Transwestern: U.S.-focused commercial real estate firm offering agency leasing, tenant representation, and project management. Directly comparable to Cresa in tenant rep and project management services across major U.S. markets.
• Lee & Associates: Privately held North American commercial real estate brokerage with a principal-led model focused on tenant and owner representation. Comparable as a mid-sized competitor in occupier-focused CRE services, primarily in the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• Colliers International: Global CRE services firm offering brokerage, advisory, and project management. Cresa hired Julie Northcutt-Dunn from Colliers, signaling direct competition for enterprise occupier mandates and senior talent.
• CBRE Group: World's largest commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, advisory, property management, and capital markets across all sides of transactions. CBRE is the dominant global incumbent Cresa competes against in enterprise occupier mandates.
• Cushman & Wakefield: Global commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, valuation, and advisory. Several Cresa hires came from Cushman & Wakefield (e.g., Jon Olmstead), indicating direct talent and client competition.
• Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL): Global CRE services firm offering leasing, capital markets, property management, and advisory. JLL represents both occupiers and landlords and competes with Cresa in tenant representation, project management, and corporate occupier services.
• Newmark Group: Global CRE services firm with strong capital markets and data center advisory practices. Cresa hired Michael Morris and team from Newmark to build its data center platform, indicating direct competition in occupier services and capital markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cresacorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CresaCorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/cresacorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cresa
• Instagraminstagram.com/cresaglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A8 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cresa