Peter Orlando, left, is the new president and CEO of The Pearson Companies, taking over for longtime leader John Stewart. Photos contributed; photo illustration by Cecilia Lopez

Commercial real estate powerhouse Pearson Companies announced a major leadership transition Tuesday, with longtime president and CEO John Stewart stepping down.

Stewart was recruited to lead Pearson Realty in 1999, beginning his career prior to that at CB Richard Ellis in the San Fernando Valley.

Retail veteran Peter Orlando is stepping into the CEO role.

Stewart is known for doubling revenues in the offices where he works, first at CB Richard Ellis then Pearson Realty.

Specializing in the recruiting and training of young sales professionals, Stewart created and instituted a “boot camp” for new recruit training and emphasized continued training for sales professionals and staff.

“Leadership is about understanding and empathy, ensuring we work as a unified force,” Stewart said in a news release.

Stewart attended the University of Southern California, where he played baseball and was selected for the 1966 Coaches All-American College Team. After graduating from USC with a business degree, Stewart played professional baseball for three years before starting his career in commercial real estate. He is an avid tennis player and skier and participated on a national champion tennis team in 1996.

“Under Stewart’s stewardship, Pearson Companies thrived, upholding values of honesty and professionalism while ensuring that each employee felt valued and supported in their professional journey,” according to the Pearson release.

Orlando steps into the CEO role with a vision to maintain Pearson Companies status as the largest independent brokerage in Central California.

“The foundation of our success lies in our top producers across three offices in Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield,” Orlando said. “My role is to guide our growth strategically, ensuring we continue our legacy of excellence.”

Orlando was a founding broker of Retail California Commercial Real estate in 2002 with Michael Arfsten and Lewis Smith. Retail California joined with The Pearson Companies in 2012.

“We have built a reputation over the past 104 years, and I am committed to maintaining and enhancing that reputation by providing the same level of service and results that our clients have come to count on from us,” Orlando said.