Cresa Appoints Nathan Knowles as Atlanta Market Leader
The commercial brokerage firm taps the former Transwestern executive to oversee regional growth and operations.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Commercial
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Cresa has officially appointed Nathan Knowles as its new executive managing principal and Atlanta market leader. Knowles is tasked with driving strategic growth for the commercial brokerage firm in the region.
Why it matters
Knowles brings experience from his previous tenure at Transwestern to lead Cresa's efforts in expanding its project and development services throughout Atlanta. His appointment follows the departure of former market leader Chris Scott earlier this year.
Cresa current staff headcount stands at 38 employees in the Atlanta office. The firm plans to increase its total headcount by 35% over the next two to three years under the new leadership.
The players
Nathan Knowles
He is the new executive managing principal and Atlanta market leader for Cresa.
Tom Tindall
He is a co-founder of the Atlanta office of Cresa who participated in the selection process for the new market leader.
Chris Scott
He served as the Atlanta market leader for Cresa until his departure in early 2025.
The details
Nathan Knowles met with Cresa co-founder Tom Tindall over the summer to discuss his new role before officially joining the team. He intends to focus the firm's Atlanta operations deeper into project and development services to bolster the company's presence.
Timeline
1990s: Cresa Atlanta office is co-founded by Tom Tindall and Jim Byrd.
March 2025: Chris Scott departs the firm as Atlanta market leader.
September 2025: Nathan Knowles joins Transwestern as an executive.
June 2026: Nathan Knowles departs from his role at Transwestern.
October 20, 2026: Cresa announces the hiring of Nathan Knowles.
Culture Shift
The hiring of Knowles reflects a broader shift toward regional expansion in the commercial real estate brokerage sector. This growth strategy positions Cresa to increase its market share against competitors by diversifying beyond traditional tenant services.
The firm's expansion plans will likely lead to increased office space demand and professional hiring activity within the Atlanta commercial market. Local business clients can expect a greater emphasis on project and development services as Cresa builds out its regional team.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions in commercial real estate often signal a pivot toward specialized service offerings in competitive urban markets. Clients should monitor these shifts to identify new service capabilities and professional resources available in their region.
Further reading
For more on the local sector, visit the Atlanta Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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