The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced today that Robert F. Welanetz, global retail real estate advisor for Blackstone Real Estate Partners, has been has been selected by ICSC's Board of Trustees nominating committee to serve as the association's chairman for the 2014-2015 term. If, as expected, Welanetz is elected at ICSC's annual meeting of members in May during RECon, he will succeed David J. LaRue, president and CEO of Forest City Enterprises, Inc., and become the association's 55th chairman.

Welanetz, one of ICSC's most active members, began his career 35 years ago at the Hahn Co., where he held executive positions in development, management, and investor relations. While there he was involved in the development of such iconic 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, which are real estate subsidiaries of The CP Group, a Thailand-based international conglomerate.

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 retail real estate for Blackstone's global real estate portfolio.

"Bob's career has flourished in tandem with ICSC's growth over the decades," said Michael P. Kercheval, president and CEO of ICSC. "His experience in multiple property sectors and markets, combined with his current position at Blackstone, gives him a panoramic view of our industry and therefore an ideal candidate for ICSC's next chairman," Kercheval added.

A member of ICSC since 1982, Welanetz is a past member of the Board of Trustees, served on the Executive Committee from May 2003 to May 2008, and was Southern Division vice president from 2002 to 2005. Welanetz has been both a student and a teacher in ICSC's educational programs. He obtained his CSM certification in 1983 and his CRX this year. He was CSM Admissions and Governing Committee chairman in the mid-1990s, and for years served on the faculty of both ICSC's University of Shopping Centers and its John T. Riordan School for Professional Development, in the U.S. and abroad.

Getting involved in ICSC offers a huge advantage to those wishing to advance their careers, Welanetz told Shopping Centers Today. "ICSC is invaluable to any serious industry professional, offering vital educational and networking opportunities. It's an industry that you must be passionate about, and in which you must actively take steps to become engaged." He went on to note that, "While ICSC is growing internationally, it continues to play a vital role in such developed markets as the U.S. and Western Europe in providing education and advancing the industry's interests with local and national governments."

Welanetz is a graduate of Colorado State University and of executive management courses at INSEAD, the global business school. He has served on the board of Australia-based Galileo Americas Trust and on the advisory board of the National Association of Realtors. He is currently on the advisory boards of Mokard, a China-based retail technology sales and marketing company; and Sino/U.S. Holdings, a U.S.-based investor in China market consumer product companies. He is also on the supervisory board of Netherlands-based Multi Corp.

Welanetz lives in Atlanta with his wife, Karen Spencer-Welanetz, and has three children: Colby, Jack and Parker.

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 60,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.

International Council of Shopping Centers
Jesse Tron, +1-646-728-3814
jtron@icsc.org