Blue Crane hires Brian Shaw for development role

Bentonville developer Blue Crane has hired Brian Shaw as its vice president of development. His first day was Jan. 3.

Shaw is a co-founder, partner and board member for the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners in Rogers. Shaw helped start the business in 2005 and was the firm’s CEO until early 2021, when he became executive chairman. Sage Partners became a New York-based Cushman & Wakefield alliance member in 2018.

Shaw is also a founding partner of Caisson Capital Partners, a Northwest Arkansas real estate investment firm.

“Brian has been an integral part of Sage Partners since our founding in 2005, and we are extremely grateful for his many contributions to our company,” Marshall Saviers, CEO and principal of Sage Partners, said in a Monday (Jan. 9) news release. “We look forward to continue working with him as part of the Blue Crane team.”

Sage Partners manages and markets more than 7.5 million square feet of office, industrial and retail properties across the state. The firm also has a Little Rock office.

Blue Crane is the real estate acquisition and development arm of Runway Group, a diversified holding company based in Bentonville and led by Steuart Walton and his younger brother, Tom Walton. They are the grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the sons of Arvest Bank Group Inc. chairman and CEO Jim Walton. Some of its notable Northwest Arkansas projects include 8th Street Market, Skylight Cinema, Crystal Flats, The Record and Blake St. House.

“Sage Partners is coming off another record year in 2022 with revenue up approximately 50% since 2020,” said Tom Allen, president and principal of Sage Partners. “I, along with our existing leadership team consisting of CEO Marshall Saviers, COO Jordan Martin and CFO Tina Miles, wish Brian continued success in his new endeavor with another outstanding organization in Blue Crane. We are excited about the opportunities for both companies going forward.”

Blue Crane is a long-standing client of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners.

“Blue Crane is excited to welcome Brian Shaw to the organization,” CEO Jared Faciszewski said. “Brian’s leadership and real estate experience, character, and passion for NWA will be a significant asset for Blue Crane as the organization seeks to effectuate its purpose — ‘creating places for humanity to flourish in NWA.'”