New York – September 9, 2024 – Savills today announced the appointment of Michelle Needles as Executive Vice President, Global Head of Enterprise Solutions for its Global Occupier Services group.  

In this role Needles will be responsible for working with the group’s key leaders to further develop client solutions and service best practices to guide the ongoing expansion of this global business. She brings over 25 years of industry experience, successfully building and supporting worldwide occupier services practices to this new position.  Her priorities will include partnering with existing clients and colleagues to optimize portfolio strategies, continuing to build Savills profile in the corporate real estate community, and collaborating with brokers and occupier services professionals across markets to meet the evolving real estate needs of regional and global occupiers.

Needles’ new position represents a homecoming to Savills, where she previously served as a Managing Director and leader of the Transaction Management service. She re-joins the company after a successful tenure at Colliers, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the firm's Enterprise Client Solutions team, serving as its leader in the Americas. Her expertise in developing multi-disciplinary account structures across geographies and her leadership in transitioning key account relationships have made her a respected figure in the industry. During her time at Colliers, she led global solution development and account transitions for major clients across multiple industry sectors including automotive, manufacturing, life sciences and consumer products, ensuring seamless service delivery and long-term partnerships.

“Michelle’s return to Savills represents a key milestone for our Global Occupier Services practice as we continue to expand our footprint around the world and enhance our service offerings,” said Chief Executive Officer, Global Occupier Services Rick Schuham. “She brings a rare combination of deep industry expertise, an extraordinary talent for value-added problem solving on behalf of clients, a proven track record in building and managing complex client relationships, and a strategic vision that aligns perfectly with our goals. Her ability to develop innovative solutions and her passion for cultivating inclusive, high-performing teams – with both clients and colleagues -- will be invaluable as we continue to scale our operations and deliver even greater value to our clients across the globe.”

“This is a pivotal time to be returning to Savills,” said Needles. “I am eager to collaborate with our practice leaders and global teams to spot new opportunities and set pursuit strategies that will drive success for our clients and our business. Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional service, combining keen local expertise and superior execution with a global perspective. I am excited to go to market with the most collaborative, innovative and responsive platform in the industry.”

Needles has made significant contributions to the commercial real estate industry, earning recognition for her leadership and expertise. In the past five years, she has been a revered public speaker, leading sessions at the CoreNet Global Americas' Summit, the Globe Street Women of Influence conference and the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals annual conference. She has been honored by her peers in Globe Street’s 2020 and 2022 Women of Influence Awards, HCL’s Red Ladder Unstoppable Women Award in 2020s, Colliers' Global Occupier Services Win of the Year in 2021 and the inaugural recipient of the Colliers Occupier Services Spirit of Colliers Award. Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and was recently published in the Corporate Real Estate Journal, the industry’s premier peer-reviewed research publication.

Savills occupier specialists collaborate to present tailored strategies around location, cost analysis, hybrid work, space design, efficient utilization and more. These advisory services cross all real estate property types. In conjunction with Savills professionals within other core advisory groups, service offerings include strategic advisory; transaction management; lease administration and audit; location strategy and workforce analytics; project management; technology solutions; supply chain, logistics and location strategy; workplace strategy and occupancy management; and sustainability strategy.