Vicinity Centres today announced that its Chief Operating Officer, Peter Huddle has been appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer. Huddle’s appointment is effective from 16 November.

Vicinity is in the process of appointing executive search firm, Egon Zehnder to undertake a global search for the replacement of outgoing CEO, Grant Kelley. The search will comprise both internal and external candidates from Australia and internationally.

Since joining Vicinity in March 2019, Huddle has been instrumental in bringing the Company’s Property Management, Leasing, Operations, Development, and Marketing functions together and delivering a highly cohesive, integrated and customer-focused team.

SCN’s Big Guns lunch, March 2022

Prior to joining Vicinity, Huddle had a long and distinguished career at Westfield in a variety of leadership roles in Australia, Brazil and the US. Notably, Huddle had management responsibility for some of the world’s preeminent retail and mixed development projects including Westfield World Trade Centre in New York and Century City in Los Angeles.

Following the acquisition of Westfield by Unibail Rodamco, which formed the largest global retail REIT in June 2018, Huddle was appointed COO of the extensive operations and development business in the United States and was the only ex-Westfield executive on the management board.

Vicinity’s Chairman, Trevor Gerber said, “Together with his company and industry knowledge, Peter has the skills and experience to continue delivering value for securityholders. This enables the Board to confidently broaden his exposure by appointing him Acting CEO and allows the bringing forward of Grant’s retirement.”