URW appoints Kathleen Verelst as Chief Investment Officer

Core Viewpoint - Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has appointed Kathleen Verelst as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective January 1, 2026, to enhance its leadership team and support its growth strategy [1][4]. Group 1: Appointment Details - Kathleen Verelst brings over 30 years of global real estate experience, having served as a senior advisor to URW's Supervisory and Management Boards from 2021 to 2024, contributing to the divestment of 17 US assets valued at $3.3 billion [2][5]. - She will take over the role previously held by CEO-elect Vincent Rouget and will focus on implementing URW's disciplined capital allocation framework as part of the "A Platform for Growth" business plan for 2025-2028 [3][4]. Group 2: Strategic Focus - Kathleen's responsibilities will include strategic oversight of investments in URW's flagship retail portfolio, emphasizing a value-accretive capital recycling strategy to create new development and co-investment opportunities [3][4]. - The leadership team, including Kathleen, is expected to effectively deliver on the "A Platform for Growth" business plan, focusing on disciplined capital allocation and a streamlined development pipeline [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - URW operates 66 shopping centers across 11 countries, with 40 under the Westfield brand, attracting over 900 million visits annually [9]. - The company's portfolio, valued at €49 billion, consists of 88% retail, 5% offices, 6% convention and exhibition venues, and 2% services as of June 30, 2025 [9].