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THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

© ECE

ECE to expand Management Board

ECE Marketplaces is reshaping its executive leadership: Effective 1 January 2026, Jan Lorenz will join the management board of the shopping center operator. In addition, Robert Heinemann will transfer from ECE Group Services to ECE Marketplaces in his role as Managing Director.

Portrait of Kathleen Verelst /// © URW

URW celebrates appointment of Kathleen Verelst as CIO

During its meeting on December 3, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s Supervisory Board appointed Kathleen Verelst as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and a member of the URW Management Board – recommended by the Group’s Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee (“GNRC”). The new appointment comes into effect on January 1, 2026.

Industry leaders at the ACROSS Retail Talk. Clockwise, from top left: Reinhard Winiwarter (ACROSS), Thomas Reichenauer (ROS Retail Outlet Shopping / FREY Group), Cristina Santos (Sonae Sierra), Marek Noetzel (NEPI Rockcastle), Klaus Striebich (RaRE Advise) and Avi Alkaş (Alkaş & HAN Spaces)

Placemaking in 2026: The New Value

The final ACROSS Retail Talk of 2025 indicates that retail enters 2026 with sharper priorities and clearer opportunities. How resilience, recalibration, and disciplined investment are setting the tone for the year ahead.

ACROSS Retail Talks /// Wrapping Up 2025 – Predicting & Shaping 2026

The final ACROSS Retail Talks of 2025 brought together four senior industry leaders – Avi Alkaş (Alkaş & HAN Spaces), Cristina Santos (Sonae Sierra), Marek Noetzel (NEPI Rockcastle), and Thomas Reichenauer (ROS Retail Outlet Shopping / FREY Group) – moderated by Klaus Striebich and Reinhard Winiwarter. The panel looked back at the year 2025 and ahead towards 2026 – a year which will be shaped by customer-centric strategies powered by data, AI, and operational agility.

Stunning exterior of the country's largest shopping center, Lagunen II in Bergen, Norway /// © Elisabeth Heier

Climate-adaptive & Community-focused: Expansion of Lagunen II, Norway

In one of Europe’s rainiest cities, Copenhagen-based BIOSIS has completed Lagunen II, a climate-adaptive, community-oriented extension that reimagines Norway’s largest shopping centre as a warm, light-filled public space shaped by Bergen’s rain-shaped coastal climate.

Entrance of Arkáda Prostějov, Czech Republic /// © Blue Assets

Blue Assets takes over the Property Management of Retail Parks in the Czech Republic

Blue Assets, the property manager of the largest commercial premises portfolio in the Czech Republic, has been expanding its operations. From January 2026, it will provide complex property management services for seven retail parks belonging to Fidurock. Blue Assets took over management of the Arkáda Prostějov on 28th November 2025.

© URW

NAKHEEL DAMMAM MALL BECOMES WESTFIELD DAMMAM

Cenomi Centers, the leading owner, operator and developer of contemporary lifestyle and retail destinations in Saudi Arabia, today announced the official rebranding of its Nakheel Dammam Mall to Westfield Dammam – strengthening the centre’s position as a leading retail and leisure destination in the Kingdom, home to 292 stores and over 58,000 square meters of gross leasable area.

Marks & Spencer store in Merry Hill shopping center in Brierley Hill, England /// © Merry Hill

M&S OPENS FLAGSHIP STORE CONCEPT AT MERRY HILL, UK

Merry Hill announced that M&S has opened its latest renewal store concept at the top 10 UK shopping destination, featuring a brand-new Coffee Shop, fresh market-style foodhall, and expanded fashion, home & beauty offer.

NEPI Rockcastle's team at the CEE Property Forum & Awards Gala in Vienna, Austria /// © NEPI Rockcastle

NEPI’s Silesia City Center wins Investment Deal of the Year

During the CEE Property Forum & Awards Gala held on the 25th of November in Vienna, Austria, NEPI Rockcastle has received the award for Investment Deal of the Year above €200 million for Silesia City Center, with Marek Noetzel and Tomasz Gorski accepting the award on NEPI’s behalf.

Gropius Passagen in Berlin, Germany /// © Holger Peters Fotografie

Gropius Passagen appoints BWP as full-service Marketing Agency

BWP Group (“BWP”), leading destination marketing and brand agency, is delighted to announce its appointment on the largest retail destination in Berlin, Gropius Passagen. BWP has been selected to deliver the full-service marketing remit by asset manager Pradera.