CBRE has named Tom Dancer as head of its European Retail Occupier business, tasking him with accelerating the firm’s growth strategy and delivering an integrated, end-to-end service for brands expanding across the continent.

Reporting to Anna Esteban, head of leasing and occupier accounts for Europe, Dancer will work closely with CBRE’s in-country retail leaders to align market intelligence, location strategy, leasing, project management and store delivery. The move aims to strengthen CBRE’s position with retailers seeking coordinated support from site selection through fit-out and opening.

Dancer joined CBRE in February 2022 and brings more than 12 years’ experience. Over the past three years he has led several high-profile European flagship transactions for brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Polène, Puma, UGG and Under Armour, giving him a front-row view of evolving store formats and the logistics that underpin pan-European roll-outs.

Commenting on his appointment, Dancer said: “The retail sector has gone through exponential change in recent years. A number of international retailers continue to realise their expansion plans across Europe, demonstrating that the value of the physical store cannot be underestimated. This makes it a truly exciting time to lead our best-in-class business through its next evolution of growth.”

For developers, landlords and delivery teams, the appointment signals continued occupier demand for prime, well-connected locations and faster, more coordinated store programmes. Expect a focus on data-led network planning, sustainability credentials in both leases and fit-out, and tighter integration between omnichannel operations and physical formats as brands scale across Europe.

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