CBRE Hires Former Transwestern Exec For Top Americas Position Mike Watts CBRE is bringing new leadership to its operations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Chicago-based veteran Mike Watts will join CBRE on May 17 as president of Investor Leasing in the Americas and will provide leasing services to the firm’s investor and landlord clients across all property types, but with a focus on the office sector. Watts is taking the helm at one of the most uncertain times ever for that asset class. The coronavirus pandemic seems to be subsiding in many U.S. markets, but it's still unknown how — or even if — companies will return to their offices, including how many workers will continue using popular work-from-home technologies such as Zoom and what impact that will have on companies' long-term footprints.