The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reports that Whitney Livingston will join the trade association as chief operating officer (COO) in March 2025, succeeding Valerie Richardson, who plans to retire at the end of 2025.

In her new role, 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 ICSC’s Tom McGee, president and 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 reportedly brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the role. Most recently, she was the president of Centennial, where she was responsible for the company’s strategy, property operations, marketing, and client services divisions. Before joining Centennial, Livingston spent 13 years at Madison Marquette in various leadership roles, including head of retail property management services.

Livingston is currently an ICSC Trustee and Board member of the ICSC Foundation. She has held numerous volunteer roles within ICSC and was an ICSC 4o Under 40 Award Honoree in 2019.

“I am honored to join the executive team of an organization that has played such an instrumental role in my career trajectory,” said 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 with McGee to enhance various programs and services, including ICSC’s next-gen initiatives. She helped “reimagine ICSC’s membership and volunteer engagement programs, including creating a new volunteer structure to reflect the needs of ICSC members better,” the organization reported in a media release.

“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,” shared 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.”

Richardson commented, “I am very grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had to serve our members and work with Tom and the ICSC team, and I am extremely confident in what the future holds for the organization. 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.”

Image courtesy Whitney Livingston