Avison Young Appoints New England Market Leader

Leeanne Rizzo to oversee firm's Boston and Hartford offices as part of regional growth strategy

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life image featuring a polished, geometric glass object resting on a clean, monochromatic background, using dramatic lighting and shadows to symbolize Avison Young's strategic leadership and market positioning in the New England region.Avison Young's strategic appointment of a new market leader signals the firm's ambitions to deepen its foothold and service capabilities across New England.Boston Today

Commercial real estate firm Avison Young has appointed Leeanne Rizzo as principal and market leader for its New England region, encompassing the company's offices in Boston and Hartford. In this role, Rizzo will oversee day-to-day operations while driving strategic talent recruitment to broaden Avison Young's service capabilities and deepen its footprint across the region.

Why it matters

Avison Young views New England as an important growth market, citing strong fundamentals and rising client demand across multiple service lines. Rizzo's appointment is part of the firm's strategy to align local resources with that demand, reinforce existing client relationships, and position the company to pursue new business opportunities throughout the region.

The details

As market leader, Rizzo will concentrate on recruiting and developing talent to support Avison Young's clients across New England, with an emphasis on strengthening the firm's capabilities in office-focused assignments. Her combination of transaction experience, regional market knowledge, and leadership responsibilities is intended to support the firm's objective of expanding its platform in New England in line with client demand.

  • Rizzo was appointed to the role on March 31, 2026.

The players

Leeanne Rizzo

Rizzo is the new principal and market leader for Avison Young's New England region, overseeing the firm's offices in Boston and Hartford. She brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, with a career focused on advising office tenants and landlords on leasing, sales, and development initiatives throughout Greater Boston.

Josh Peyton

Peyton is the principal and regional managing director for Avison Young's East Region. He noted that the company views New England as an area of expanding opportunity and highlighted Rizzo's leadership background and regional track record as central to advancing Avison Young's ambitions in the market.

Avison Young

Avison Young is a commercial real estate firm that has appointed Leeanne Rizzo as the new principal and market leader for its New England region, encompassing the company's offices in Boston and Hartford.

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What they’re saying

“We view New England as an important growth market within our broader platform, citing strong fundamentals and rising client demand across multiple service lines.”

— Josh Peyton, Principal and Regional Managing Director, East Region

The takeaway

Avison Young's appointment of Leeanne Rizzo as the new market leader for its New England region reflects the firm's strategic focus on expanding its presence and capabilities in this important growth market. Rizzo's extensive experience and regional expertise are expected to play a key role in aligning Avison Young's resources with client demand and positioning the company for continued success in the region.