Real estate visionary Scott D. Malkin, former Chairman of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Europe region and Chairman of Value Retail PLC and S.D. Malkin Properties, has been selected as the first recipient of the ULI European Leadership Award. The award recognises industry leaders in Europe whose contributions to urban development and real estate, along with civic and social endeavours, exemplify the spirit and mission of ULI.

Value Retail PLC, founded by Malkin in 1992, supports luxury fashion brands through upscale outlet shopping villages serving Europe’s gateway cities including London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, Brussels and Dublin. The partnership between Value Retail and the retailers is a departure from traditional shopping centre development, in that Value Retail’s staff supports the sales – a “retailer serving retailer” model that has been hugely successful. Malkin’s non-traditional business model has been widely credited for transforming the way oversupplied luxury apparel and accessories are marketed globally.

Immediate past ULI Europe Chairman and European Leadership Award Jury Chairman Jon Zehner bestowed the award to Malkin during a celebratory dinner at the ULI Europe Conference in London on Tuesday 5 February. “Scott has led the reshaping of part of our industry and the creation of a new asset type in Europe,” said Zehner, who is Global Co-Head of the Client Capital Group at LaSalle Investment Management. “He is drawing a new, creative group of young people into the property industry who will keep it competitive for years to come. Furthermore, he is one of the most intellectually curious people you will ever meet and someone who, in great ULI fashion, is always pleased to share his knowledge with others.”

A long-term member of ULI, Malkin was drawn to the organisation by its unique, long-standing tradition of interdisciplinary networking and knowledge sharing – a quality he believes is serving the Institute well as it broadens its reach around the globe. “I am deeply honored to be recognised by an organisation as prestigious and progressive as ULI,” Malkin said. “Our Institute’s strong appeal is that we are a melting pot that embraces new thinking and the exchange of knowledge and best practices,” Malkin said. “The ability to engage with the world’s most respected land use leaders to effect change is a powerful draw.”

Malkin is a ULI Trustee and served as ULI Europe Chairman from July 2011 through June 2013. During his term, he guided the direction of ULI’s programme of work in Europe, including efforts to raise the Institute’s visibility as the global authority on innovative design and development. He is a ULI Foundation Governor, a Trustee of the ULI United Kingdom Charitable Trust, and he is a member of the European Retail and Entertainment Council and the Commercial and Retail Development Council.

Current ULI Europe Chairman Juergen Fenk noted that Malkin’s record of volunteerism is exemplary of the heightened member commitment at the centre of ULI’s Global Strategic Plan, which seeks to strengthen member impact through increased engagement.

“Scott’s close involvement with ULI, combined with his commitment to top-quality service, are invaluable assets as our organisation continues to evolve and grow in Europe,” said Fenk, an award jury member and chief executive officer of SIGNA Holding GmbH. “He is a thoughtful, decisive leader who has been instrumental in developing ULI in Europe.”

In addition to Zehner and Fenk, the European Leadership Award jury included leading ULI Europe members Barbara Knoflach, Deputy Chief Executive and Global Head of Investment Management, BNP Paribas REIM; Anne Kavanagh, Chief Investment Officer and Board Member, PATRIZIA; Sigrid Duhamel, Chief Executive Officer, BNP Paribas REIM France; Francois Trausch, Chief Executive Officer, Allianz Real Estate; Hala El Akl, Director, PLP Architecture; Clarissa Alfrink, Head of Business Development, Apleona Real Estate GmbH; and ULI Europe Chief Executive Officer Lisette van Doorn.

The jury evaluated 22 nominations on the basis of: vision and leadership; capability of driving innovation in real estate; history of sustainable business models/projects; contribution to the reputation of the industry; commitment to the community; and service as a role model for younger generations.

“As a leading voice for ULI and the industry, Scott is helping greatly to reinforce and enhance the Institute’s brand as the foremost authority on building and sustaining thriving communities in Europe and around the world,” van Doorn said. “His tireless service to ULI and the industry made him a very deserving recipient of our inaugural European Leadership Award.”