Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced the appointment of Kathleen Verelst as chief investment officer, effective from January 1, 2026. She will also join the Group’s Management Board. This appointment follows the recommendation of the Governance Committee and comes as URW prepares its 2025-2028 strategy.
Portrait of Kathleen Verelst – LinkedIn
URW remains one of Europe’s leading players in the commercial real estate sector. The Group owns 66 shopping centres in 11 countries, including 40 under the Westfield brand, with a total portfolio valued at €49 billion. URW is also pursuing urban and sustainable projects, in line with its ‘Better Places’ plan. Its shares are listed on Euronext Paris.
Kathleen Verelst has over 30 years’ experience in real estate and finance. She has worked at the investment bank Morgan Stanley, as well as at law firms in New York. Between 2021 and 2024, she served as senior adviser to URW. In this role, she helped the Group reduce its debt and dispose of 17 assets in the US for a total of $3.3 billion.
She succeeds Vincent Rouget, who will become chairman of the Management Board in 2026. In her new role, Kathleen Verelst will be responsible for investment policy and capital allocation. She will oversee strategic projects across the Westfield portfolio and develop new growth opportunities, including through capital-light projects and co-investments.
URW’s management emphasises that her international experience and deep knowledge of the Group make her a key asset in delivering the 2025-2028 roadmap. Her expertise in real estate, finance, and complex operations should strengthen the Group’s ability to continue its transformation.
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