ICSC Nominates Robert F. Welanetz as Chairman
The International Council of Shopping Centers has announced that Robert F. Welanetz, CRX, CSM, global retail real estate adviser to Blackstone Real Estate Partners and one of ICSC’s most active members, has been nominated to be the association’s chairman for the 2014–2015 term.
Welanetz is expected to be elected at the organization’s annual member’s meeting at RECon in May, which will make him the ICSC’s 55th chairman. He’ll succeed current chairman David J. LaRue, president and CEO of Forest City Enterprises.
The ICSC recap of Welanetz’s career to date is impressive:
“It began some 35 years ago at The Hahn Co., under the legendary Ernest Hahn, where he held executive positions in development, management and investor relations. There he was involved in the development of such trophy centers as Horton Plaza, in San Diego, and Fashion Show Mall, in Las Vegas. He went on to serve as senior vice president of operations and leasing for Pan Pacific Development; managing director of retail at The Yarmouth Group; head of Lend Lease Retail Americas; and president and CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Retail. His career then took him to Asia, where he was president and CEO of Shanghai Kinghill Ltd. and co-chairman of Chia Tai Real Estate; both firms are real estate subsidiaries of The CP Group, a Thailand-based international conglomerate. He was also on the board of Lotus Supercenters, CP’s 100-unit hypermarket chain in China.
Now based in Atlanta, Welanetz advises Blackstone Real Estate Partners on sourcing and creating investment strategies, underwriting acquisition targets and determining strategic asset management guidance for Blackstone’s global retail real estate portfolio.”
Welanetz has some kind things to say about the organization, too. “ICSC is invaluable to any serious industry professional,” he said. “It’s an industry that you must be passionate about, and in which you must actively take steps to become engaged.”
