Chaim Katzman is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and controlling shareholder of Gazit Globe (TASE, NYSE, TSX: GZT), a leading global real estate company focused on the ownership, development and management of shopping centres and mixed-use properties in major urban markets. As CEO of Gazit-Globe, Mr. Katzman leads the global operations and manages affiliate and subsidiary activities for approximately $11 billion of real estate assets in the Unites States, Canada, Europe, Israel and Brazil..
Mr. Katzman is also the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and controlling shareholder of Norstar Holdings Inc. (TASE: NSTR), the parent company of Gazit Globe, and was the Founder and Executive Chairman of Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY), a leading urban focused shopping centre REIT he founded in 1992 which merged with Regency Centers in 2017, forming a leading US shopping centre REIT. Mr. Katzman served in roles as EQY’s CEO and then Chairman from 1992 to 2006. Mr. Katzman currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Regency Centers (NYSE: REG). Mr. Katzman also served on the Board of First Capital Realty Inc. (TSX: FCR), Canada’s leading owner, developer and operator of supermarket and pharmacy-anchored shopping centres from 2000 to 2017. He served as FCR’s Chairman from 2000 to 2015. In 2008, following an investment by Gazit-Globe, Mr. Katzman was appointed as Chairman of the Board of the Company. In 2010, Mr. Katzman was appointed Chairman of Citycon Oyj (OMX: CTY), an owner, developer and operator of shopping centers in the Nordic and Baltic and the market leader in the Nordic shopping centre sector.
A pioneer of the retail investment and development industry, Mr. Katzman is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the Real Estate Roundtable and the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), and a trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Katzman was the recipient and winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in the Real Estate and Construction Services Category in Florida. Mr. Katzman received an L.L.B. from Tel Aviv University Law School and serves as a Trustee on the Board of Governors at Tel-Aviv University.
Mr. Katzman is a well-known civic leader, philanthropist and supporter of numerous organisations. In 2011, he founded the Gazit Globe Real Estate Institute at Israel’s Interdisciplinary Centre (IDC) Herzliya, an academic and research program focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in the real estate sector that offers a Master’s degree in real estate with concentrations in housing, land use and real estate finance.