DAVID JAMES BATEMANCommercial Real Estate · South Florida

Brokerage leadership · CBRE South Florida

Managing Director,
South Florida

David Bateman built CBRE South Florida into the dominant commercial real estate platform in the market — achieving #1 market share across all major asset classes in Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties and growing the brokerage to 110+ producers.

Built CBRE South Florida into the market's dominant platform — #1 across every major asset class.

As Managing Director, David didn't just operate CBRE's South Florida brokerage — he unified it. When he arrived, Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach operated as separate, siloed businesses. He led the initiative to position South Florida as a single, cohesive market — driving collaboration across offices, aligning go-to-market strategy, and building the kind of culture brokers actually wanted to be part of.

The result: CBRE South Florida reached #1 market share across all major asset classes and grew to over 110 brokers. The platform became the most active commercial real estate operation in the region, competing at a national level during one of the most productive cycles in South Florida's history.

David was recognized during his tenure as a 2021 South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree — celebrated across CBRE's South Florida offices.

#1 Market share, all asset classes
110+ Brokers under leadership
3 County markets unified
David Bateman, Managing Director, CBRE South Florida, in the CBRE boardroom
David Bateman at CBRE's South Florida offices — Managing Director, Broward and Palm Beach Counties

Recognition · Industry leadership

2021 SFBJ 40 Under 40 Honoree. NAIOP South Florida President-Elect. Both earned while leading CBRE.

The South Florida Business Journal's 40 Under 40 program recognizes professionals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in business and community leadership. David's selection was announced and celebrated across CBRE's South Florida offices. Concurrently, he served as President-Elect of NAIOP South Florida — the region's leading commercial real estate industry organization — representing the interests of the entire South Florida CRE community at the state level.

David Bateman at CBRE — photos

David Bateman at CBRE conference, South Florida commercial real estate
David Bateman at a CBRE national conference — South Florida commercial real estate executive
CBRE South Florida office lobby announcing David Bateman as 2021 South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree
CBRE South Florida offices recognizing David Bateman as a 2021 SFBJ 40 Under 40 honoree
David Bateman representing CBRE at a South Florida career and recruiting event
David Bateman representing CBRE at a South Florida recruiting and career event
David Bateman at NAIOP South Florida Awards of Excellence — CBRE listed as sponsor
David Bateman with the NAIOP South Florida Awards of Excellence team — CBRE among event sponsors
David Bateman, South Florida commercial real estate executive, downtown skyline
David Bateman — South Florida commercial real estate executive, Boca Raton and Palm Beach
David Bateman at a South Florida commercial real estate networking event
David Bateman at a South Florida commercial real estate industry event

Lobbying for commercial real estate — Florida Legislature

As President-Elect of NAIOP South Florida, David led a delegation to the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee to lobby for commercial real estate industry initiatives. The most significant: repealing Florida's sales tax on commercial leases — a tax that had burdened commercial tenants in Florida for decades and made the state an outlier nationally. The lobbying effort David was part of was paramount in securing the legislative support that ultimately led to the repeal, which took full effect in 2023. It is one of the most consequential policy wins in Florida CRE history.

David Bateman, NAIOP South Florida President-Elect, at the Florida Legislature lobbying for commercial real estate — repeal of sales tax on commercial leases
David Bateman at the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee — representing NAIOP South Florida as President-Elect, lobbying for the repeal of Florida's sales tax on commercial leases. The repeal, which took full effect in 2023, eliminated a tax that had applied to commercial tenants in Florida for decades.

CBRE South Florida — community & culture

Culture was deliberate, not accidental. David built a CBRE South Florida environment where people wanted to show up — not just because of the deals, but because of what the team stood for. The platform ran kickball tournaments, sponsorships, multiple charity initiatives, and community-facing events throughout the year. The annual Corporate Run became one of many touchpoints for a team that competed hard and celebrated together. The culture initiative was central to CBRE South Florida's ability to attract and retain top producers across Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach.

David Bateman with CBRE South Florida Corporate Run team
David Bateman with CBRE South Florida teammates at the Corporate Run
David Bateman, CBRE South Florida Corporate Run
CBRE South Florida Corporate Run — David Bateman with the team
CBRE South Florida team at the Corporate Run — David Bateman
The CBRE South Florida team at the Corporate Run, Fort Lauderdale
CBRE South Florida full team at Corporate Run — David Bateman, Managing Director
CBRE South Florida — full team at the Corporate Run, with CBRE South Florida tent visible. David Bateman, Managing Director, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Career context

CBRE · Managing Director, South Florida

Miami · Broward · Palm Beach — Unified

Built CBRE South Florida into the market's dominant brokerage platform, achieving #1 market share across all major asset classes. Led the initiative to unify Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach as a cohesive South Florida market rather than three siloed operations. Grew the brokerage to 110+ producers.

NAIOP South Florida · President-Elect

Industry Advocacy & Legislative Impact

Served as President-Elect of NAIOP South Florida while at CBRE. Led the delegation to the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee lobbying for the repeal of Florida's sales tax on commercial leases — a decades-old burden on commercial tenants. The repeal passed and took full effect in 2023.

Recognition · 2021

South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40

Named an SFBJ 40 Under 40 honoree while serving as Managing Director at CBRE. Recognized across CBRE's South Florida offices and the broader South Florida business community.

Earlier career

Avison Young · Foundry Commercial · Transwestern

Prior to CBRE, David built his production career across multiple institutional platforms — developing deep expertise in investment sales, leasing and client advisory across South Florida's commercial markets.

Today

Scarlett Harper Commercial · Managing Director & Founding Partner

David now leads Scarlett Harper Commercial, a Boca Raton-based brokerage focused on investment sales and leasing across South Florida, with a platform designed around producer performance and transaction discipline.

Work with David directly.

Two decades of experience across CBRE, Avison Young, Foundry Commercial and Scarlett Harper Commercial — now applied directly to South Florida investment sales and leasing.

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