Independent real estate firm RKF is expanding outside of the United States, with its first cross-border office opening in Toronto.

RFK, which specializes in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, has announced that Steven Alikakos will serve as the president of the Toronto office.

Alikakos has more than 22 years of retail leasing experience in Canada, and most recently served as the senior vice-president and senior manager at DTZ Canada.

“We are extremely pleased to have launched our first office outside of the U.S. in Canada with Steven Alikakos at the helm,” says Robert Futterman, chairman and CEO of RKF. “Toronto has increasingly become known as a global hub for retailers and retail real estate investors, and there are few people who know and understand the retail landscape in Canada better than Steven.”

The Toronto announcement comes just a few weeks after RKF formalized an affiliation with U.K.-based retail consulting firm CWM Retail Property Advisors, LLP. Once the Toronto office opens, RKF will have operations in a total of eight major markets.