Five years after putting up his own shingle and starting Audubon Commercial Real Estate, Joe Gorman is closing up shop and joining Corporate Realty.
In his new role with one of the state’s largest commercial brokerage firms, Mr. Gorman will serve as director of leasing for Place St. Charles, the tallest skyscraper in downtown New Orleans.
The office market in New Orleans, like the rest of the country, has been tough since the pandemic made remote work the norm, but Gorman said the decision was not based on recent market activity.
“If anything, the opportunity presented itself and it was a really good opportunity to jump on,” Gorman said. “I wasn’t looking for this. It just came to me.”
Mr. Gorman replaces Bennett Davis, who will take on an expanded role at Corporate Realty as senior manager of Place St. Charles leasing and serve as liaison to the building’s New York owners. Become. Davis will also take on more general brokerage duties, according to a prepared statement from the firm.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gorman will bring his largest client, the Exchange Center, an old office building in the central business district, to Corporate Realty, where he will continue as director of leasing.
Gorman is a California native who first came to New Orleans in the early 2000s. He spent 17 years at Max Derbes Commercial Real Estate, specializing in the local office market, before founding Audubon in late 2019.
As director of leasing for St. Charles Square, he will take over one of the healthiest office towers on the market. Built in 1985, the 52-storey building is nearly 84% leased, well above the average of less than 80% for new and Class A buildings in the CBD.
Major tenants in the tower include Jones Walker, Baker Donelson, Chase Bank, Capital One, and Corporate Realty, which is headquartered in the building.
“Joe is a great fit for our company and a great fit for St. Charles Square,” said Corporate Realty CEO Mike Siegel, whose company has grown from 70 to nearly 90 employees over the past three years. .
The changes will take effect from January 1st.
