Pattillo leaving CBRE Group at year's end

Chase Pattillo, who has led CBRE Group Inc.’s Tampa operation for the past four-plus years, is planning to leave the commercial real estate brokerage firm at year’s end.

Pattillo, 50, says he is interested in pursuing development and “disrupting technology” opportunities in and around Tampa.

“While managing 30-plus brokers and staff across multiple platforms is never dull, it takes a passion, and I’ve found I have more passion for development, for specialty niches and I’m taking a hard look at innovative technology, like driverless cars and the impact that’s going to have on commercial real estate going forward.”

Pattillo joined CBRE’s Tampa office as its managing director in June 2014, where he directed operations and developed business across multiple platforms. Prior to CBRE, Pattillo had run a workout department for soured commercial real estate loans for Jacksonville-based EverBank.

He’d also worked at Corinthian Real Estate Capital, Flagler Development Co., Integroup Realty Trust and brokerage firm HFF.

Though Pattillo spent much of his professional career in Jacksonville, he says he plans to stay in Tampa because of its “vitality.”

“I’m fortunate to be able to take a step back and consider the next steps,” he says. “My background is in development and mortgage banking, and I’m intrigued today with health care and senior housing and student housing and the opportunities they present.

“At CBRE, I’ve been in a unique position to see those trends unfold, but running the day-to-day operation here, I’ve been unable to really do much with what I consider future opportunities, and I believe there’s enough runway left in this cycle to pursue this journey.”

He says he has no plans at present to join a development firm or open a branch office of an out-of-state firm.

Likewise, Pattillo’s successor in Tampa has yet to be named, though Pattillo says he is actively involved in the search for his replacement.

Pattillo’s departure marks the second pending high-profile exit from CBRE in 2018.

Bill Moss, the company’s senior managing director in its Orlando office, plans to retire at the end of the year after more than 40 years with CBRE.