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New York, NY — April 2, 2026 — CREtech New York, the largest real estate AI and innovation conference and the flagship event of NYC Real Estate Week, has announced Ross Cooper, President & Chief Investment Officer, Kimco Realty, as a featured Main Stage speaker for its 2026 edition at the Javits Center taking place October 20–21, 2026.
Retail real estate has undergone a seismic reinvention over the past decade — and few have had more influence over how that story has unfolded than Ross Cooper. As President and CIO of Kimco Realty, one of North America's largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers, Cooper sits at the intersection of capital strategy and market conviction. He oversees the company's acquisition and disposition strategy, works closely with the Investment Committee and regional leadership, and serves as a voting member on all new investments, development projects, and property dispositions. Since joining Kimco in 2006 and rising through acquisitions and asset management, he has helped shape one of the most respected investment platforms in retail real estate — and was elected to the Company's Board of Directors in 2025.
Session Details:
- Title: The State of Global Real Estate: The C-Suite View
- Date: October 20, 2026
- Location: Main Stage at CREtech New York
This session will deliver exclusive C-suite perspectives on the strategic blueprints driving the industry's largest portfolios. With leaders spanning logistics, retail, multifamily, data centers, and office, the conversation will offer a direct look at where capital is moving, which sectors are gaining momentum, and how the world's top real estate firms are navigating today's market environment — and positioning for what's next.
Cooper's expertise in capital allocation, deal strategy, and navigating market cycles makes him a critical voice in understanding how major investment platforms are responding to the pressures and opportunities reshaping commercial real estate — from evolving consumer behavior and mixed-use densification to the role AI is beginning to play in underwriting and portfolio decision-making.
His session will be a centerpiece of CREtech New York's overarching theme, Commercial Real Estate in the Age of AI, which examines how artificial intelligence is transforming:
- C-suite leadership and governance
- Capital flows and investment strategy
- Agentic AI and workflow automation
- Construction and robotics
- Leasing and tenant experience
- Sustainability and performance optimization
- Data centers and power demand
- The line between hype and measurable ROI
CREtech New York brings together thousands of C-suite executives, investors, developers, brokers, occupiers, and technology leaders for two days of forward-looking content and the largest meetings program in real estate. The event's structured, high-value meetings program is designed to connect decision-makers with solution providers in curated, ROI-driven conversations that move business forward.
Ross Cooper's investment-driven perspective is just one of many high-impact sessions across the two days, alongside curated networking, dealmaking opportunities, and strategic meetings designed to ensure every hour at CREtech delivers tangible value.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact: TJ Murphy – Sales Director – tj@cretech.com
About CREtech: CREtech is the leading events, research, and content platform focused on innovation in the built world, connecting the world's largest real estate owners, operators, developers, investors, and technology leaders shaping the future of commercial real estate.