Peterson Cos. Hires Head Of Retail Leasing From JLL

Peterson Cos. has hired a JLL and Vornado veteran to lead its retail leasing team. 

The family-run development company named Kimli Cross vice president of retail leasing. She spent the last 15 years with JLL, rising to executive vice president of retail development leasing and most recently spearheading the leasing of Minneapolis' Rosedale Center. Prior to JLL, Cross spent six years at Vornado as senior vice president and director of mall leasing, overseeing the REIT's 7.6M SF mall portfolio, which it has since spun off into a separate company. 

“Kim’s in-depth insights across disciplines including property management, brokerage operations, and asset management, combined with her more than 20 years of experience leasing to a wide variety of high profile local and national retailers, made her the ideal candidate,” Peterson Cos. Retail President Paul Weinschenk said in a release. “Her expertise will be a tremendous asset to the company and greatly assist in our efforts to develop and operate high-quality, desirable, retail destinations.”   

At Peterson, Cross will be responsible for leasing all of the company's existing properties and future projects. Peterson is known for large-scale mixed-use developments such as National Harbor, Downtown Silver Spring, Fairfax Corner and Avonlea. 

"Peterson Cos. has an incredible track record throughout the region for developing some of the most recognized, high-performing and vibrant live, shop, play, work centers," Cross said. "I'm excited to join the retail team here and playing a critical role in moving several exciting new developments forward. "

In March, Peterson announced a major transition for its leadership structure. Founder Milt Peterson took a less active role as chairman and principal, while two of his sons, Jon and Rick, were elevated to top positions.