CBRE Group has a new managing director in Minneapolis: Blake Hastings.

Hastings will assume his new position Jan. 1, succeeding Whit Peyton who has more than two decades of service to the firm. As managing director, Hastings will be responsible for all of the real estate services firm's operations in Minnesota.

"Blake is a highly successful real estate professional and is a terrific addition to our team as we further enhance our leadership position within the Minneapolis market area," said Mike Gerard, President of CBRE's Central Region, in a statement.

"The hard work of Whit Peyton and our team hasbuilt CBRE into the No. 1 real estate services firm in the Twin Cities and we are confident that Blake will add to that success with continued growth in the future," Gerard said.

Hastings previously worked at Cassidy Turley/BRE in Phoenix, Ariz., where he was a senior vice president serving commercial property owners, users, investors and developers.

Hastings has completed more than 800 transactions with an aggregate value of $800 million during his career. Prior to Cassidy Turley/BRE he was one of the top office brokers at Grubb & Ellis/BRE. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Villanova University.

Peyton will remain with CBRE after the transition, assisting . Hastings taking an active role in the company's business development efforts in Minnesota.

Janet Moore covers commercial real estate for the Star Tribune.