Louis Karam, CBRE’s newly minted Managing Director for Quebec, has always been well served by his strong entrepreneurial spirit.
Born in Lebanon, Karam moved to Montreal at 11. After high school, he attended l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in project management.
Karam’s first job out of university involved managing the construction of a data centre. Despite his inexperience, he jumped in and figured things out on the fly.
“That was my initial exposure to the world of real estate,” Karam recalls. “I didn’t have all the answers, but I worked creatively and diligently to help deliver the right solution for my client.”
Joining CBRE
After five years at Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, Karam joined CBRE‘s Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), where he managed technical projects and later led Project Management divisions in Quebec and Eastern Canada. His entrepreneurial drive thrived in CBRE’s supportive culture.
“The entrepreneurial nature of the real estate business and how it’s fostered at CBRE kept me here. I loved diving into the sales side and working closely with brokers. Working at CBRE gave me a real appreciation for how real estate professionals operate. It drove me to do all I could to empower my team to achieve great things.”
Capital Gain
In 2021, Karam became Managing Director of CBRE Ottawa, earning his team’s trust through his people-focused leadership. “I came from outside the brokerage world, and I didn’t know the market. Being a good listener and genuinely caring about my team helped me gain their trust.”
Last year was a record revenue year for CBRE Ottawa in its 25 years of operation, a testament to the team’s hard work and collaboration. “I am incredibly proud of that achievement,” Karam says. “The credit goes to our teams who worked tirelessly and exceeded client expectations.”
Happy Homecoming
Returning to Montreal holds deep meaning for Karam. “It feels great to be back home and return to a market I know well,” he says. His family, wife and two boys are thrilled to have him back full-time. “My biggest motivation for returning to Montreal was to be closer to my family,” he shares. “Being away three days a week was tough on all of us.”
Karam will continue to oversee the Ottawa office, hiring a sales manager for the day-to-day support.
Strong Team
Karam inherits a strong team in Montreal and aims to attract and recruit younger talent, fostering their growth in the CBRE way. He is also excited about the potential evolution in Quebec City.
“I can’t wait to lean in and help our advisors and clients achieve their full potential across the province.”
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