Sears Holdings names head of real estate development

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that David Lukes has joined the company in its real estate business unit as president real estate development. Lukes comes to Sears Holdings from Mall Properties Inc. where he served as president and CEO of the privately owned $3 billion real estate firm.

In this new role, Lukes will lead the company's effort to further develop certain of its real estate assets, including those real estate assets that are no longer in use as retail stores. Jeff Stollenwerck, president of the company's real estate business unit, will continue in that role and oversee the traditional corporate real estate functions for Sears Holdings.

"We have a very strong real estate team at Sears Holdings and that team will only be stronger with the addition of an executive of David's caliber," said Lou D'Ambrosio, Sears Holdings' CEO and president. "Historically, Sears has selectively realized value from its real estate holdings through store acquisitions, strategic store sales, and our leasing and licensed business programs. David's hiring allows us to expand our capabilities to include the enhancement and re-development of appropriate properties."

Prior to Mall Properties, Lukes served as chief operating officer and EVP Kimco Realty Corp. from 2002 to 2010. There he was responsible for the financial results of Kimco's large U.S. and Puerto Rico shopping center portfolios. He started his career in 1994 at the New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects PC, where he was responsible for the management of design and technical departments of the full-service international architectural firm.

Lukes has a master's degree in real estate development from Columbia University and a master's degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.