Von Ancken appointed chairman at Landauer Appraisal Services

According to Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, it has named industry veteran Robert Von Ancken, MAI, CRE, as chairman of Landauer Appraisal Services, a division of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. Von Ancken brings more than 40 years of real estate appraisal expertise to this position, having appraised hundreds of billions of dollars of real estate throughout his career. As chairman, he will focus on opportunities to fuel Landauer's future growth, utilizing the strength and breadth of BGC Partners' proprietary technology platform, its team of real estate debt and equity experts, and its powerful market data to provide quality market knowledge and enhanced valuation and consulting services across all practice group areas. "Landauer is one of the oldest, most respected names in the commercial real estate industry and a hallmark of excellence. Founded by Jim Landauer, an industry pioneer, Landauer has continued to lead the way throughout the decades and provide only the best, highest quality data and market information analysis that is insightful, compelling, and invaluable to its prominent client base," said James Kuhn, president, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. He continued: "Valuation is no longer a cookie-cutter appraisal process, but an ancillary part of Capital Markets that requires specialized knowledge in hospitality, gaming, healthcare, retail and other sectors. Landauer has one of the best known names in the commercial real estate industry. During the 1980s John White, president of Landauer, introduced the concept of inflation, growing rents and expenses, and integrating discounted cash flow, while selling the former MetLife Building (known as the Pan Am Building) which changed the way buyers analyzed and acquired real estate. Since then, Landauer has continued to lead the evolution of commercial real estate appraisals, and has built a reputation for providing high quality property and market analysis. "The widely respected Landauer name is synonymous with value and integrity. As we enter a new age with the creation of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, we seek fresh and innovative ways to add value to clients and continuously strengthen our business. Landauer is a key element of that future, and an important focus of BGC's investment in Newmark Grubb Knight Frank," said Michael Lehrman, global head of Real Estate for BGC Partners, Inc. Von Ancken, a leading New York City real estate appraiser, has served as executive managing director of Grubb & Ellis New York for most of his career. His accomplishments include testifying before the Supreme Court to deter the demolition of Grand Central Terminal. He has appraised more than 10,000 properties in and around New York City, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, World Trade Center, and Columbia University. A member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, he is considered one of the nation's foremost experts on air rights. Landauer Appraisal Services, a division of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, provides appraisal, valuation and consulting services to financial institutions, management companies, pension funds, corporations, owners and investors, developers, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Founded in 1946, Landauer is one of the oldest and most respected brands in commercial real estate appraisal and valuation consulting. Landauer has hubs in all the major markets and more than 100 professionals nationwide. It offers single asset and portfolio valuations, market analysis and feasibility studies, lease and cost analyses, debt analysis, and valuations for all types of commercial real estate, including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, vacant land, hotels and resorts, as well as special use facilities. Structured around high-quality data, state-of-the-art technology and proprietary systems, its professionals deliver objective, accurate and timely market information for all types of commercial property, and excel at analyzing and interpreting that information for clients. A part of BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:BGCP), Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the largest commercial real estate service firms in the U.S. It brings together the strategic consultative approach to creating value for clients and leading position in the New York market that are hallmarks of Newmark Knight Frank; the complementary strengths of Grubb & Ellis in leasing and management, investment sales, valuation and capital markets services; and BGC's financial strength, proprietary technology, expertise in global capital markets and deep relationships with many of the world's leading financial institutions. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and its London-based partner Knight Frank together operate from more than 300 offices in established and emerging property markets on five continents. This major force in real estate is meeting the local and global needs of tenants, owners, investors and developers worldwide.