George Graf is a managing director with the retail group of Newmark in New York. He joined the firm in 2011 with over 36 years of experience as a senior executive working for international and domestic high-end retailers and currently provides a full array of services to retailers throughout the New York Metropolitan region. These capabilities include strategic planning, market analysis, option development, site selection and transaction negotiation. By tapping into his corporate background and accessing Newmark’s international platform, Mr. Graf assists clients with real estate requirements both in his home base of New York and in markets across the world. Mr. Graf’s experience makes him an expert at understanding the needs of retailers and restaurateurs. He brings this unique knowledge to each transaction on which he works.
Prior to joining Newmark, Mr. Graf was the managing director at Arts de Provinces de France, a luxury home furnishings retailer that had over 20 locations across the U.S. and offices in Europe operating as Pierre Deux. While there, Mr. Graf’s responsibilities included the overall management of all facets of the organization and as chairman of the executive committee, directed all pyramid Vice Presidents. Before joining Pierre Deux, Mr. Graf held similar positions in luxury branded retail as operating vice president Bloomingdale’s, president and CEO of Galeries Lafayette and EVP and COO of Workbench, where he successfully engineered the sale of the company to a private equity group in 1998.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
- Member, Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)
- Luxury Lifestyle Professional Forum
- Green For Retail and Restaurants Association
- Managing Director Forum
Mr. Graf holds a Bachelor of Science in biology, University of Hartford (cum laude).
