John Grotto, a 20-year industry veteran, has joined Transwestern's New York City office to serve the Northeast region as managing director. He will focus on the leasing of office and retail space in the New York City area.

Grotto joins Transwestern from The Durst Organization where he served as a senior leasing manager and led the company's retail leasing effort. While there he successfully completed more than 120 combined office and retail leasing transactions for a portfolio of more than 9 million square feet of Class A Manhattan properties.

Grotto's most notable retail transactions have included TD Ameritrade, Verizon, GAP, Staples, Starbucks, Sprint and Dishes.

Prior to The Durst Organization, Grotto served at Colliers ABR following the firm's merger with J. Grotto and Associates, where he began his commercial real estate career. Grotto received a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College.