ICSC Announces John Peter (JP) Suarez as ICSC Chairman and Conor Flynn as ICSC Vice Chairman for 2026
Former Walmart International Regional CEO Suarez and Kimco Realty CEO Flynn to Lead ICSC’s Board of Trustees, Plus Eight Additional Trustees Named
NEW YORK, December 4, 2025 – ICSC announced today that the organization’s Board of Trustees elected John Peter (JP) Suarez, Former Walmart International Regional CEO, Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer, to serve as ICSC’s Chairman and Conor Flynn, Kimco Realty CEO, to serve as Vice Chairman for the 2026 term. JP succeeds Angele Robinson-Gaylord, SVP, Store Development Americas, Starbucks Coffee Company, as ICSC’s 65th Chairman.
Suarez brings a global perspective and deep operational expertise to his role as ICSC’s Chairman. For nearly two decades at Walmart, he held senior leadership positions, including serving as the former Regional CEO, Argentina, Canada, Chile and Massmart, and Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer of Walmart International.
“The depth and breadth of JP’s experience in retail and real estate and his forward-thinking approach will be invaluable as we continue to serve our members and expand the impact of the ICSC brand,” said Tom McGee, President and CEO of ICSC. “I’m also pleased to welcome Conor as Vice Chairman, whose longstanding leadership and deep understanding of retail real estate will bring critical insights as we champion innovation to shape the future of our industry.”
Most recently, Suarez led Walmart’s Technology, Supply Chain, Global Leverage and Supplier Relationship Management teams, while overseeing operations across multiple markets. He also served as President of Walmart Realty, managing the organization’s real estate portfolio and development strategy. Suarez is a board member of Brixmor Property Group and was elected to the Board of Trustees for EPR Properties this year, underscoring his commitment to the retail real estate industry.
“Having spent decades working across global markets and leading retail operations and real estate, I’ve seen firsthand how vital our industry is to communities and economies,” said Suarez. “I’m honored to be selected as ICSC’s Chairman and look forward to working with Conor and ICSC’s leadership team to serve our members and ensure the continued growth of the organization and our industry.”
As CEO of Kimco Realty since 2016, Flynn has guided the company through transformative growth. Under his leadership, Kimco Realty has become one of the leading owners and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use properties in the U.S., with a portfolio that reflects the changing needs of consumers and retailers alike. Flynn is a member of the Executive Board of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and served as their Chair this year.
In addition to Suarez and Flynn, eight other members will join the ICSC Board of Trustees in 2026:
- Samuel Ankin, Co-Founder & Managing Principal, Northpond Partners
- Brian Finnegan, President & Chief Operating Officer, Brixmor Property Group
- Carol Joyner, Head of Real Estate Transactions, U.S. and Canada, Levi’s
- Jay Lessard, Head of Global Real Estate & Construction, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
- Bridgid O’Connor, Vice President of Real Estate Strategy & Operations, Publix
- Katie Reinsmidt, Executive Vice President - Chief Operating Officer, CBL Properties
- Joshua Simon, Founder & CEO, SimonCRE
- Townsend Underhill, President & CEO, Stirling
ICSC will also welcome four Next Generation Trustees, comprised of leaders under 40 years old:
- Billy Burke, Director, Eastdil Secured
- Katie Grissom, Global Head of Retail, Nuveen
- Veronica Kamara, Principal, KLNB
- Stephanie McGowan, Managing Director, Real Estate, Blackstone
About ICSC
ICSC is the preeminent membership organization serving the commercial real estate and retail industries. The organization promotes and elevates the marketplaces and spaces where people shop, dine, work, play and gather as foundational and vital ingredients of communities and economies. ICSC produces experiences that create connections and catalyze deals; aggressively advocates to shape public policy; develops high-impact marketing and public relations that influence opinion; provides an enduring platform for professional success; and creates forward-thinking content with actionable insights–all of which drive industry innovation and growth. For more information, please visit www.ICSC.com.
Stephanie Cegielski
Vice President, Research & Public Relations