Deborah Stearns leaves Harvey Lindsay for Jones Lang LaSalle in Hampton Roads

Deborah K. Stearns, one of Hampton Roads best known commercial real estate executives, has left Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate in Norfolk, where she was a senior vice president, to join the Hampton Roads office of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). 

Stearns could not be reached for comment Thursday, but a message on her voice mail at Harvey Lindsay said she has relocated to Jones Lang LaSalle and left a forwarding number. According to a statement from Harvey Lindsay, a desire to work for a company with a more national footprint prompted Stearns’ departure.

“Deborah K. Stearns was a great asset to the Harvey Lindsay team and has been a great personal friend. We wish her all the best with Jones Lang, we are saddened by her departure, but understand her desire to affiliate with a firm that has more of a national platform,” Michael W. McCabe, president and CEO of Harvey Lindsay told Virginia Business. 

A spokesperson for JLL said the company could not comment on Stearns’ move at this time.

Stearns, 57, joined Harvey Lindsay in August 2009 after the closing of GVA Advantis, where she served as executive director of GVA’s Norfolk office. In that role, she was in charge of managment and business development for the Hampton Roads region. At that time, GVA was the third-largest real estate firm in Virginia, and the Norfolk office employed 18 brokers and generated about $24 million in revenue. 

Stearns has been active in community affairs. She received the Hampton Roads Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 and has served on numerous boards, including the Virginia Port Authority. She also served as chairman of the Old Dominion Real Estate Foundation from 2004-2009.

Real estate giant JLL opened a Hampton Roads office in Virginia Beach in 2010. It is headed by Charlie Polk, who is the leading executive for the Richmond/Hampton Roads region.

Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. In 2011 it had global revenue of $3.6 billion, serving clients in 70 countries from more than 1,000 locations, including 200 corporate offices. The firm has a portfolio of about 2.1 billion square feet worldwide.