ICSC Announces Transition Plan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (November 4, 2024) – The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced that Whitney Livingston will join as Chief Operating Officer in March 2025, succeeding Valerie Richardson, who plans to retire at the end of 2025. Livingston will oversee ICSC’s day-to-day operational functions.

“Whitney’s deep relationship with our members and her industry and operational expertise will be instrumental as we continue to focus on delivering value to our members and innovating to attract the next generation of industry professionals,” said Tom McGee, ICSC President & CEO. “With a track record of building and maintaining exceptional relationships, Whitney understands the need for an unrelenting focus on service, one of ICSC’s core values. I am very much looking forward to working with Whitney.”

Livingston brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the role, most recently having served as President of Centennial, where she was responsible for the company’s strategy, property operations, marketing, and client services divisions. Prior to joining Centennial, Livingston spent 13 years at Madison Marquette in various leadership roles, including as the head of retail property management services. She is currently an ICSC Trustee and board member of the ICSC Foundation. She has held numerous volunteer roles within ICSC, and in 2019, was an ICSC 4 Under 40 Award honoree.

“I am honored to join the executive team of an organization that has played such an instrumental role in my career trajectory,” said Whitney Livingston. “Under Val’s leadership, ICSC cultivated strong relationships with volunteers and members, specifically the next generation of talent. I am excited to build on this momentum and help ICSC continue to deliver the high-quality programs and services that members value.”

In her years with ICSC, Richardson worked alongside McGee to enhance various programs and services, including ICSC’s Next Generation initiatives. She helped reimagine ICSC’s membership and volunteer engagement programs, including the creation of a new volunteer structure to better reflect the needs of ICSC members.

“Val is a dear friend who played a critical role in rebuilding ICSC after the pandemic, working closely with our team to elevate our programs and enhance the value of ICSC membership. Leveraging her extensive industry knowledge, new offerings were created to help our members drive their businesses forward,” stated McGee. “Her insight and partnership will be key to ensuring a smooth transition over the next year. I know I am not alone in saying we will truly miss her when she retires at the end of 2025.”

“I am very grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had to serve our members and work with Tom and the ICSC team and am extremely confident in what the future holds for the organization,” Richardson said. “Whitney’s wealth of industry experience and ICSC involvement gives her a deep understanding of the priorities of our members. There is no doubt that her commitment and support of ICSC’s mission to serve our membership will be recognized and appreciated by our members and our team.”