Robert F. Welanetz

Robert F. Welanetz has been nominated by the board of trustees as chairman, with the position to be confirmed in May at the annual meeting of members. He is to succeed David J. LaRue, president and CEO of Forest City Enterprises, and become the association’s 55th chairman. Robert began his career 35 years ago working for the Hahn Company, where he held executive positions in development, management, and investor relations. 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 retail in the Americas for Lend Lease; and president and CEO of retail for the Americas of Jones Lang LaSalle. His career then took him to Asia, where he was president and CEO of Shanghai Kinghill. and co-chairman of Chia Tai Real Estate, which are real estate subsidiaries of The CP Group. Now based in Atlanta, he 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. A member of ICSC since 1982, he is a past member of the board of trustees, served on the executive committee from May 2003 to May 2008, and was vice president of the southern division from 2002 to 2005. Robert is a graduate of Colorado State University and of executive management courses at INSEAD.