Colliers Seeley Promotes COO to Succeed Plott

Commercial real estate brokerage Colliers Seeley has a new chief executive for the second time in two years. Jeff Scheferman, who had been the Los Angeles firm’s chief operating officer since early last year, succeeded Robert “Cody” Plott as president and CEO.

Scheferman, 54, who joined the private sector six years ago after 27 years in the Marine Corps, said Plott resigned to pursue other interests.

After retiring as commander of the Marines’ 5th Regiment at Camp Pendleton, Scheferman spent much of his time overseas developing and overseeing offshore business for his first two private-sector employers: materials-handling specialist HK Systems and airport operator Airports Group International.

He now heads one of the area’s oldest commercial real estate services operations, which has been an independently owned affiliate of the Colliers International brokerage alliance for several years.

Under Plott’s direction, Colliers Seeley added about 25 real estate professionals over the last year, boosting its ranks beyond 150. Despite the general decline in market activity as economic growth has cooled, the company’s revenues at mid-year were up slightly over 2000’s strong first half, Scheferman said.