Cushman & Wakefield strengthens its Capital Markets team in land, mid-cap investments and retail real estate

23 September 2026

Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield is expanding the capabilities of its Capital Markets team in Poland with the appointment of Joanna Kieszczyńska as Head of Mid-Cap & Land, alongside the strengthening of its retail team with Iwona Październy and Jakub Walczak. The expansion is aimed at broadening services for investors involved in mid-size transactions, domestic capital and property owners seeking a broader perspective on asset potential and value. It also comes in response to the increasing activity in the retail sector, which remains one of the key growth areas in the investment market.

The investment market is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of investor profiles and the scale and type of transactions. With Polish capital and mid-sized assets coming increasingly to the fore, clients expect advisory services that go beyond buying and selling. At the same time, we see immense potential in the retail sector. Cushman & Wakefield has been deeply involved in retail real estate for many years and is a leading adviser on retail transactions across the CEE region. We want to further strengthen this market position because in retail we can deliver particularly significant value to our clients by combining our transactional expertise with our operational, technical and commercial capabilities. This is why we have decided to continue strengthening our team, which we have been developing together with Aleksandra Włodarczyk for many years,

says Paweł Partyka, Head of Capital Markets Poland, Cushman & Wakefield.

New capabilities in land and mid-cap transactions

Joanna Kieszczyńska has been appointed Head of Mid-Cap & Land at Cushman & Wakefield, with responsibility for business development across two areas: single-asset or portfolio transactions of up to EUR 20 million and land transactions. Her key focus will be on the living sector, including apartments for sale, PRS and PBSA, as well as repurposing projects.

Joanna Kieszczyńska brings many years of advisory and transactional experience gained at international advisory firms. She spent 13 years in JLL’s Capital Markets team, advising on investment transactions in Poland’s real estate market and working with Polish and international investors, developers and asset owners. Previously, she worked at Colliers International as a land and investment projects specialist in its Land Department.

Attractive properties are no longer the preserve of large investment funds and developers. We are increasingly seeing Polish investors looking for new investment opportunities, more flexible and opportunistic projects, as well as development land to diversify their operations and deploy capital,

says Joanna Kieszczyńska, Head of Mid-Cap & Land, Cushman & Wakefield.

The expansion into this area also addresses the needs of owners of small and mid-sized assets. Cushman & Wakefield will support them both in property disposals and in identifying partners for joint investment ventures.

Sometimes, the key to a successful transaction lies in rezoning the land, taking a fresh look at a building’s potential use or tailoring a strategy to current market needs. Drawing on my experience and established relationships, I want to help property owners identify the best options for their assets – from land transactions to more complex repurposing projects,

adds Joanna Kieszczyńska.

Operational experience strengthens retail advisory capabilities

The Capital Markets team has also been strengthened by Iwona Październy and Jakub Walczak, who bring first-hand experience in retail property management, leasing and sales. Their expertise in operational and asset management, as well as leasing, complements the team’s transactional capabilities with practical insight into how properties operate, the potential risks they face and opportunities for value creation.

Iwona Październy has worked in retail real estate throughout her professional career. She brings extensive experience in retail property management, spanning both operational and asset management, including her work with the Balmain Group. At Cushman & Wakefield, she will apply this expertise to transactional processes, supporting the assessment of asset performance, potential and key risk areas.

Jakub Walczak joins Cushman & Wakefield with experience working on the owner side at the Dekada Group, where he was responsible for retail portfolio management, leasing and sales processes. His practical insight into shopping centres and retail parks, including assets in regional markets, bolsters the team’s capabilities in property assessment and value creation. At Cushman & Wakefield, he will draw on this experience, particularly given the growing importance of retail parks and regional markets. In his new role, he will also focus on liaising with Polish investors.

The expansion of capabilities in land, mid-cap transactions and retail real estate operations is another step in the development of Cushman & Wakefield’s comprehensive services for the investment market. The firm has also recently welcomed Piotr Rusinek, whose experience spans Project & Development Services and Capital Markets. His role includes technical due diligence, construction cost analysis and assessing their potential impact on transaction terms.

This integrated model enables clients to benefit from support throughout the investment process – from analysing land and the potential of properties to technical and operational advisory, as well as transaction preparation and execution.

Karolina Samczyńska

Head of Marketing and Sales Enablement, Poland at Cushman & Wakefield