Interview with Matthew Harrell, CEO at Franklin Street

Matthew Harrell is Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Street, a full-service commercial real estate firm. After joining the company in 2009 and becoming the firm’s top producer, he went on to lead Franklin Street’s Insurance Services division, where he helped establish insurance as the firm’s largest and highest revenue-producing business line, then to serve as Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing all aspects of Franklin Street’s growth initiatives including business development, M&A, recruiting and training. Since 2012, he’s served on Franklin Street’s Board of Directors providing strategic guidance on the long-term vision and trajectory of the company.

Appointed CEO in 2022, Harrell’s vision is to grow Franklin Street’s national presence through developing top-producing teams and building on the firm’s strengths, including its culture and entrepreneurial spirit. He is actively recruiting people and practices in high-growth U.S. markets with an initial focus on Dallas, Houston, Austin, Nashville and Charlotte.

Over the course of his career, Harrell has received many accolades and awards, including Business Observer’s “40 Under 40 Award” in 2017 and Insurance Business America’s “Platinum Top Producer” honor in 2021. He earned his bachelor of science in risk management insurance from Florida State University. He’s based in Tampa, Florida, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.

Interview questions:

Introduction | Can you provide an introduction to Franklin Street, including it services, where you are located and how many employees you have?

Achievements | What are some of the key metrics that demonstrate Franklin Street’s recent success?

Local/National | Which services are provided nationally and which services are provided locally?

Career | Prior to joining Franklin Street, you served as Vice President of the Real Estate Practice team for the Willis Group. Please provide an overview of your career prior to becoming CEO of Franklin Street.

CEO | In January 2022, Franklin Street founder and CEO stepped down as CEO. In March, you were promoted to CEO. Tell us about the transition.

Recent Transactions | Can you share some of your most notable recent transactions and wins?

Team | Who are some of the key members of the team?

Technology | How is Franklin Street incorporating technology to help your clients?

Asset Classes | What asset classes should be prioritized in 2022?

Growth | Please share the growth plans for Franklin Street

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn

Founded in 2006 during one of the toughest real estate climates, Franklin Street focused on delivering value-added solutions to meet the evolving needs of clients. Through a collaborative philosophy of leveraging the resources, expertise and experience of each of its lines of business, Franklin Street has grown to include seven business divisions – Investment Sales, Tenant and Landlord Representation, Capital Advisory, Insurance, Property Management and Project Management. With more than $5.5 billion in transaction value across all major product types, Franklin Street offers unmatched value and optimal solutions for clients nationwide. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the company has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Chicago. Learn more about Franklin Street at FranklinSt.com.