Upon the June 15 announcement of the passing of Jim Taylor, tributes have poured in from many in the Marketplaces Industry who knew him well.
A former ICSC chair who led Brixmor Property Group as CEO from 2016 until his retirement at the end of 2025, Taylor guided Brixmor through a crucial period of transition and strategic repositioning. He also helped transform its culture. Colleagues say he made Brixmor what it is today.
Jim Taylor at a Brixmor all-employee meeting Photo above and at top courtesy of Brixmor
By all accounts Taylor was a gifted leader with a keen real estate mind and an ability to bring out the best in those around him. He made people feel seen and heard because his interest in them was genuine, as evidenced by the dozens of comments on Brixmor’s LinkedIn post announcing Taylor’s passing.
“Jim meant a great deal to me,” said ICSC president and CEO Tom McGee. “He was a wonderful friend who was thoughtful, considerate and genuine — a great leader and a kind man who made everyone around him feel valued. … He was an absolute joy to be with, and it was my privilege to be his friend. He gave so much to ICSC, to this industry and to the many people fortunate enough to know him.”
A CAREER BUILT ON INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES: C+CT Profiled Jim Taylor When He Became Chair of ICSC in December 2023
According to Taylor’s obituary, a funeral service will be held Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Taylor’s name to Georgetown University Medical Center’s Fund a Fellow for Parkinson’s program.
Read on for more remembrances from Taylor’s friends and colleagues.
Taylor and colleagues rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 4, 2023. Among those with him were Brixmor’s Stacy Slater, at left, and Brian Finnegan, at center. Photos courtesy of Brixmor
An Inspiration to His Team
“[Recently] we hosted our 15th Big Brain Day at Brixmor Property Group. We started these events in 2017, bringing in leading experts from diverse fields presenting and discussing topics to engage and inspire individual and team growth. … Sadly … this was the first Big Brain gathering without Jim Taylor. Jim’s care for people clearly stood out. He created these events because he wanted to inspire our team and help all of us improve as individuals — and if just one person in the company could better his or her life from what he or she learned in these talks, it was worth it. This is one of the countless ways he approached improving the lives of others over the course of his life. We have all been deeply saddened by his loss, but seeing our team gather together for events like this reminds me of the impact he had on our company and the lives of so many. We will continue to hold these and other events he cherished here to honor his legacy.”
—Brixmor president and CEO Brian Finnegan, also chair of the ICSC Foundation
Taylor with author David Silverman at Brixmor’s Big Brain Day in 2019 Photo courtesy of Brixmor
A Deeply Caring Friend and Mentor
“Jim was a great friend to me, a mentor as a past chair and a great leader. He provided tremendous support to ICSC throughout his career and cared deeply for the people he worked with wherever he went. But perhaps most importantly, Jim was a great guy. This one hurts. I will miss him.”
—ICSC chair JP Suarez
Taylor with current ICSC chair JP Suarez, at right Photo courtesy of Brixmor
A Man of Integrity
“I’m gutted by [the] news about Jim Taylor. I wrote him this letter when he retired and I’m sharing it here because every word still stands.
‘Dear Jim, Words truly fall short in expressing how much your leadership has meant to me. I’ll never forget when you first started. It was a tumultuous time with so much change, and suddenly we were going to be led by someone from outside the company. From day one, you were inquisitive and genuinely wanted to hear what people had to say. You were approachable in a way I had never experienced before — so much so that we quickly found ourselves talking about our families. I had never before had a CEO feel so real and accessible. I deeply admire how you’ve always been a person of integrity. You didn’t just write our cultural tenets — you lived them. Time and again, you relied on those principles to guide decisions. … You always made me feel like I mattered. You sought out my opinion, acted on it, and even paused when I disagreed. You challenged me in ways that stretched me beyond what I thought I could do — but you never seemed to doubt me. And the biggest vote of confidence was how you continued to give me the resources and involve me in solving real business problems.’”
—Brixmor senior vice president of marketing Kristen Moore
Read Moore’s full LinkedIn post
A Lifelong Friend
“Jim and I became friends during high school in Alexandria, Virginia, where we shared the bond of playing sports and learning from many of the same teachers. Even then, he was the kind of person everyone gravitated toward. Life eventually brought us back together in an unexpected way through our work with ICSC. Watching his leadership style and ultimate ascent to the chairmanship of ICSC was a privilege, though not a surprise to anyone who knew his character. With his signature warm smile and a genuinely kind word for everyone he met, Jim earned the deep admiration of his colleagues at Brixmor and built a legacy of lifelong friendships across our industry. He will be profoundly missed.”
—ICSC vice president of state and local government relations Jim Hill
Taylor’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving; golfing with Brixmor’s Bill Brown, Mark Horgan and Brian Finnegan; and he loved being on the water. Photo courtesy of Brixmor
A Hero Who Put People First
“Jim was a rare kind of friend to everyone he touched — someone who always put people first, not just in principle but in practice. He led with empathy, integrity and a genuine care for every single person he met. This sounds crazy, but he truly saw the best in everyone he ever met. It was a gift to have known Jim for 28 years. … His legacy will be the countless lives he touched and the standard he set for leading with humanity — his true superpower. Jim reminded us that success is not just measured in outcomes, but in how we show up for one another every day.”
—Brixmor vice president and chief investment officer Mark Horgan
Read Horgan’s full LinkedIn post
A Friend Who Welcomed All
“Jim Taylor was a giant in our industry. He transformed Brixmor Property Group. Soon after Jim arrived as CEO, he came to my office and shared a story about a colleague and friend — someone Jim knew was gay, but who remained closeted out of fear. Jim told me he was grateful that I was out at work and told me we were going to build a culture where everyone knew they were welcome at Brixmor. That work is never really finished, but it started with Jim.”
—Brixmor senior vice president and associate general counsel Patrick Bennison
Read Bennison’s post on LinkedIn
A Man Whose Greatest Passion Was Family and Friends
“While I had known Jim for well over a decade, he became a friend as a fellow board member at ICSC, where we both served as chair of the executive board. During a period of significant turmoil, Jim always brought calm and thoughtful leadership to the role. And yet, what I remember most is how much fun it was to have a beer with him and spend time talking about the things in life he was most passionate about: his wonderful family and friends. I will remember, cherish and miss those conversations, as will so many others.”
—Acadia Realty Trust president and CEO Kenneth Bernstein, also a former ICSC chair
A Leader Who Made All Feel Seen
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have joined Brixmor Property Group shortly after Jim did. He transformed not only the portfolio but also the culture into what it is today. More importantly, he was a mentor to me and to so many others. I learned a tremendous amount about leadership from Jim. He led with humility, and he had a rare ability to make every person in the room feel seen and valued.”
—Brixmor vice president of national accounts Evie Gross
Read Gross’ full LinkedIn post
A Volunteer Who Gave His Time
“Jim was vice chair during my tenure as chair of ICSC and led ICSC as I became chair of the [ICSC] Foundation. I most admire Jim for his dedication to the Foundation — not only for his great interest in student advancement but for his active role in providing that advancement. He not only contributed to student scholarship funds but also gave his time and that of Brixmor.”
—PREIT Realty executive chair Glenn Rufrano, also a former ICSC chair and current member of the ICSC Foundation board
A Friend Who Was Loved and Admired
“Jim was one of my dearest friends. We shared a friendship that spanned more than 25 years and meant far more to me than our professional relationship. I loved him, I admired him and already miss him terribly. My heart is with his family and the many friends who loved him.”
—Regency Centers president and CEO Lisa Palmer, also an ICSC board of trustees member
An Effortless Leader
“Jim led with integrity, intelligence and, above all, a fantastic sense of humor that snuck up on you. A rare combination of qualities that made him a great friend, an effective executive and an effortless leader. To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement; he simply will never be replaced.”
—Abell Associates CEO Liz Holland, also a former ICSC chair
A Sensational Human Being
“Jim Taylor was a sensational human being. He combined intellect, humility and grace to successfully navigate any situation presented. Those who considered him a beloved friend are truly at a loss. All who met him have been eternally blessed."
—Raider Hill Advisors co-founder and CEO Daniel Hurwitz, also a former ICSC chair
A Peer Who Was Genuinely Interested
“The first time I met Jim was shortly after he was named to the ICSC board and showed up at a dinner for new trustees. He entered the room, made a beeline for our table filled with ICSC team members and not only introduced himself but also had us go around the table and talk about what we worked on. He seemed so genuinely interested and inquisitive that he immediately made everyone feel comfortable. He stayed for the entire dinner. He was a tremendous business leader and could easily command a room, not just through his keen intellect but through his kindness and respect for everyone he worked with or knew.”
—Former executive vice president of the ICSC Office of Government Relations & Public Policy Betsy Laird
Taylor at the 2025 ICSC Federal Fly-In with Clark Hill’s Paul Magy, Mid-America Real Estate’s Cynthia Kratchman, Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, D’Agostini Co.’s Emily D’Agostini Kunath and Agree Realty’s Ed Eickhoff
A Member Who Exhibited Warmth and Integrity
“Those of us at ICSC who had the privilege of working alongside Jim during his contributions as a member, trustee and chairman will remember not only his commitment to the best interests of the membership and the industry, but also his warmth, integrity and genuine care for others.”
Former ICSC COO Valerie Richardson, also a current ICSC Foundation board member
Highly Valued
“I have spent almost 30 years in the retail research industry, but it wasn’t until my 20th year that a leader ever came to my office unannounced to seek out my opinion, without a preface or an invitation. To be honest, it was a nerve-wracking experience to have the CEO in my office for 45 minutes unfettered. …His visits became more regular, and I slowly grew more accustomed to them, even as he occasionally brought other leaders with him (no pressure there). This simple act made me feel highly valued and that I was part of something larger — no mean feat. Putting people first is an oft-noted, rarely lived, tenet and I really miss those meetings.”
—Brixmor vice president of research David Spawn
Read Spawn’s full LinkedIn post
An Exceptional Person
“Jim Taylor was one of those people everyone genuinely liked and respected. He was a tremendous leader but more importantly, he was an exceptional person. Jim was always generous with his time and open in sharing his perspective, and he was someone you looked forward to seeing whenever your paths crossed. He made a lasting impact on our industry and on the many people fortunate enough to know him. On behalf of all of us at Kimco, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Jim’s family, friends and colleagues. He will be deeply missed.”
—Kimco Realty Corp. CEO Conor Flynn
One of the Good People
“Jim made a real impact on this industry, but more than anything, he was just one of the good people you don’t come across every day. … He led with integrity, cared about people and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He was smart, humble and engaged. I will deeply miss him. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who were close to him.”
—Phillips Edison & Co. CEO Jeffrey Edison
A Privilege To Know
“Jim — today is the first day in 1,437 days that I didn’t send you my Wordle. Over nearly 30 years at Brixmor, I’ve been fortunate to have two incredible mentors, but spending the last decade working alongside you was one of the greatest privileges of my career. You had a rare gift for encouraging people, for making everyone feel seen, valued and confident. It’s why you didn’t just have colleagues; you had so many true friends who admired and loved you. I’ll always smile thinking about the stories, the lessons and the times we spent together. And I will never forget one of your favorite sayings: ‘I wouldn’t want to be the clowns walking behind the elephants.’ It captured so much about how you led, with humility, perspective and humor.”
—Brixmor executive vice president of investor relations, capital markets and corporate strategy Stacy Slater