According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc., Peter Sharpe, president and CEO of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited has been nominated by the ICSC board of trustees to serve as the association's chairman for the 2009-2010 term. Sharpe will officially assume his role as chairman during RECon, ICSC's annual meeting in Las Vegas this May. Sharpe will succeed Mary Lou Fiala, president and chief operating officer of Regency Centers, Jacksonville, Fla., becoming the association's 50th chairman. Sharpe has been an active and dedicated member of ICSC for 21 years and served on ICSC's board of trustees from 2002-2008. He is also only the seventh Canadian to chair ICSC in the association's more than 50-year history. "I am honored to be nominated as chairman of ICSC which has been providing invaluable service and support to our industry for over 50 years and is particularly relevant during these challenging economic times," said Sharpe. With experience on a global level, Sharpe's background is ideal to serve as the head of our association in the coming year," said Michael Kercheval, ICSC's president and CEO. "Mr. Sharpe's vast industry knowledge makes him outstandingly qualified to help guide the world's largest retail real estate association" he said. "I, along with our board of trustees look forward to working with him," added Kercheval. Sharpe joined Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview in 1984, becoming president and CEO in 2000. Today the company, wholly owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has a global commercial real estate portfolio valued at C$16.3 billion (US$13.2 billion), of which retail accounts for 64%. The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited is one of North America's largest investors, owners and managers of commercial real estate. For more than 50 years Cadillac Fairview has been leading the way in commercial real estate with innovative design, development and management. Cadillac Fairview focuses on developing and managing high quality office properties and regional shopping centres in Canada and the United States with equity investments in real estate companies and international investment funds. Cadillac Fairview and its affiliates own and manage 83 properties across North America, including some of Canada's landmark developments, such as Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto Eaton Centre, Pacific Centre and Chinook Centre. Cadillac Fairview is wholly-owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which invests to secure the retirement income of 278,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario.