CBRE’s Babikian elevated to vice chairman

Jeffrey Babikian was promoted to vice chairman at CBRE; according to the firm, the highest rank Advisory & Transaction professionals can achieve within the company.

Babikian’s appointment, announced Feb. 18, marks the first time a New Jersey office leasing professional has achieved the title at CBRE.

“Jeff is one of the industry’s most respected professionals, having built strong long-term relationships with high-profile occupiers, investment clients and landlords throughout the region,” said Senior Managing Director of CBRE’s New Jersey operations, Jeffrey Hipschman, in a statement.

“We are honored to have Jeff as part of our team and congratulate him on this truly worthy promotion,” he added.

One of the most active brokers in the Tri-State area, Babikian was hired at Edward S. Gordon Co. (Insignia), before its 2003 acquisition by CBRE.

He represents his clients – a group that has included KPMG, Mercedes-Benz USA, NBCUniversal, the New York Giants and Volvo – across the commercial real estate process both locally and nationally, according to the firm.

In 2019, Babikian was part of the team that represented Toys R Us in the sale of its former 621,000-square-foot headquarters in Wayne. In November of that year, he helped PIM Brands, then Promotion in Motion Inc., secure its new headquarters in Park Ridge—marking the largest new office transaction completed in Bergen County for 2019, at that time.

The power player – he’s held a spot on the NJBIZ Commercial Real Estate Power 50 list since 2019 – is also a recipient of the “Broker of the Year” award, several times over. Babikian is a winner – and multiple-time nominee – of NAIOP’s Deal of the Year award, and at CBRE he’s taken home the Colbert Coldwell Circle award, which is presented to the company’s top 3% of brokers nationwide, multiple times, as well.

Babikian has also served as co-chairman of Shelter Our Sisters, as a committee member of the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Rutgers Real Estate School, as an active consultant to the Bergen County Economic Development Corp., and as a former board director of the Ramsey Education Foundation.