Current responsibilities:
Erika Schanke is based out of New York and leads Global Business Development for Retail. Erika recently joined JLL in 2022 to serve as the leading advisor dedicated to cross-border retail expansion. As a member of JLL’s Global Retail Board her primary role is to help clients identify new revenue streams and creatively optimize their global real estate assets. This includes supporting retailers with their market entry strategy and identifying key challenges to developing an acquisition strategy supported by both local broker knowledge and in-depth research.
Experience:
Erika is a commercial real estate professional with a 20-year history of developing global relationships and implementing strategic planning solutions for multinational companies. Most previously Erika was Vice President at New York-based Odyssey Retail Advisors LLC. focused on landlord clientele and luxury retail partnerships. In addition to working at Odyssey Retail Advisors, Erika held various positions over 13 years within Cushman & Wakefield. In her last role as Managing Director of Retail Services, she provided strategic direction for the global retail platform while leading cross-border initiatives for the Americas, driving multi-market account growth across the firm. As the point person for business development, Erika was instrumental in cross-service line collaboration and led the retail strategic partnerships furthering omnichannel opportunities.
Erika’s retail leasing experience includes representation of over 1 million square feet of urban and suburban developments and specialty leasing of the Cohen Design Center’s portfolio. She has also worked with multiple retail and restaurant tenants on site selection, portfolio restructuring, and dispositions. In recent years she has assisted numerous retailers in their market entry to North America as well as U.S. retailers’ expansion abroad.
Prior to C&W, Erika spent five years at IPG’s McCann Erickson Advertising and Momentum Promotional Marketing companies within Mergers & Acquisitions; And she began her professional career as a Series 7 licensed trader at Merrill Lynch in their private client group.
Education and affiliations:
Erika is a licensed real estate salesperson in New York and Georgia, a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is actively involved with Junior Achievement. She received her B.S in Marketing with a minor in Finance from Florida Atlantic University.
