Influencers in Retail

On the following pages you will find our picks of the leading influencers in the retail space. Like the rest of our influencer series, this group of retail specialists reflect special characteristics that have allowed them to make a mark on the industry. We don’t, in other words, automatically pick the biggest companies or the most prolific teams—although they certainly can be found on the following pages. Rather, we look for individuals, teams and companies that have led to significant change.

We started this project well before the coronavirus began to infiltrate the US economy. But in many ways, this list takes on a special meaning in the midst of the pandemic. With retail struggling to maintain a footing right now, the industry will need the best and the brightest to lead the way. Here are the people that we believe meet that criteria.

PETE BETHEA Newmark Knight Frank Newmark Knight Frank brought on Pete Bethea four years ago to assist in building out its retail capital markets platform throughout the Western states. Proving himself as an original member and an important figure of the retail capital markets team, Bethea has played a strategic role in growing and organizing the western retail platform. As vice chairman in the firm’s San Diego office, Bethea has recruited top retail capital market professionals, expanding the retail capital markets group to 13 professionals across key markets, including Seattle, Phoenix and Northern California in effort to serve clients with assets in the West. With more than 32 years of experience in the shopping center market, he has successfully represented advisors, developers and institutional clients, such as Site Centers Gerrity Group, Kimco, CIM, Blackrock, Blackstone/Shopcore, RPAI and Weingarten. Proving instrumental to the firm’s practice as a leading retail investment broker, Bethea has additionally been responsible for more than $5.5 billion in shopping center sales within recent years. Comprehending the importance of service to the industry, Bethea focuses much of his time on mentorship in effort to secure top talent for the future.