Steve Kelley
CEO, J&J Worldwide Services
In 2024, Steve Kelley’s biggest achievement included the sale of J&J for $800 million in cash, plus a potential earn-out of up to $250 million, payable in 2027, making it one of the largest facilities management company acquisitions.
On Feb. 27, 2024, CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm and a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, completed the acquisition of J&J Worldwide Services, integrating J&J into CBRE’s Global Workplace Solutions segment and their Government and Defense Services business.
Why Watch
J&J, now part of CBRE’s Global Workplace Solutions, continues to provide exceptional support to government and defense customers, leveraging 50-plus years of experience. The company integrated its offerings with CBRE to form CBRE Government and Defense Services, which features a DCAA-approved accounting system and achieves over $2 billion in global contract services. This integration makes CBRE GDS one of the world’s largest facilities management defense contractors.
CBRE manages over 1 billion square feet of healthcare facilities and 7.3 billion square feet of real estate globally. Together, J&J and CBRE deliver innovative facilities management solutions in the healthcare industry, including Smart FM Solutions that enhance operational efficiency and reliability while reducing costs and carbon emissions.
This system integrates building automation, IoT, AI, and advanced analytics, transforming facilities management from a manual, reactive approach to an automated, proactive one. With Smart FM Solutions, CBRE GDS combines all facilities management services into a unified, industry-leading approach, aiming to make the CBRE GDS brand renowned and respected in the government and defense sectors.
“You have to push relentlessly day after day until you have breakthroughs, then celebrate the breakthrough and wake up and push some more…. till the walls come tumbling down!” Kelley said.
Fun fact: Kelley loves coffee and owns multiple coffee shops.