Transwestern Real Estate Services President Tom Lawyer plans to retire at the end of the year and Greg Munson, executive managing director of the Midwest region, has been promoted to replace him.

Munson will oversee all of the operations of TRS, Houston-based Transwestern’s firm that focuses on advisory, consultancy and leasing for assets and tenants. Lawyer will stay with Transwestern through the end of 2023 to “ensure a seamless transition,” a news release said.

Lawyer has been in the industry for 45 years and with Transwestern since 2018. He led aggressive expansion efforts, including the acquisition of three regional firms last year, which he previously told Bisnow were part of a years-long, disciplined plan coming to fruition.

Transwestern remains in an acquisitive mode, Lawyer said, although it has the flexibility to focus on its asset services and property management side amid a slowdown of commercial real estate transactions.

“That's a big piece of our revenue pie, which is not transactional-related,” Lawyer previously said. “It's not having to lease a space, or sell a building or finance a building, you know, we're managing big buildings.”

Finding the next leader for Transwestern’s services organization has been one of Lawyer’s primary objectives since he joined the company, he said in the news release.

"Greg and I have worked side by side over the last two years, and I am confident we have found the right next-generation leader for TRS,” Lawyer said.

A member of Transwestern's board of directors and executive committee, Munson has assumed increasing leadership responsibilities since joining the firm in 2016.

“Throughout its 45-year history, Transwestern has had tremendous success anticipating trends and planning for the future of real estate,” Munson said in a statement to Bisnow. “With our recent acquisitions across the country, we’ve never been better positioned. I am humbled and proud to help lead TRS as we together reimagine ways to drive value for our clients, team members and communities.”

Munson began as managing principal and market leader in Minneapolis and, since 2021, has served as executive managing director of the Midwest region, which includes offices in Chicago and Rosemont, Illinois, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit and Des Moines, Iowa.

"Greg is an exceptional, highly respected leader who brings a wealth of industry experience to this position," Transwestern CEO Larry Heard said. "His team mentality and proven ability to anticipate the needs of owners, tenants and investors will be invaluable as we create solutions to address the challenges and opportunities our clients are deliberating today."

Munson is based in Transwestern's Minneapolis office, where he will remain.

"It is an honor to take on a broader leadership role at Transwestern, especially at a time when our industry is at an important inflection point," Munson said in the release. "We are extremely grateful to Tom for setting a high bar and reinforcing a culture of creativity and collaboration."