With Wong gone, Urban Related, part of the Related Cos., backed out of Dallas, declining comment to GlobeSt.com last Tuesday about the executive's departure. Consequently, Hillwood is back at the helm for the Victory project, home to the American Airlines Center.

Before his stint at Urban Related, Wong spent nine years at the Walt Disney Co., including time as president of the Disney Development Co. and Walt Disney Imagineering. Wong was responsible for the design, development and construction of all theme parks, rides and attractions, hotel, retail, dining and other projects. At Disney, he oversaw the largest development program in the company's history, including significant expansion in Anaheim, CA; Orlando, FL; Tokyo and Paris. After Disney, Wong served as chairman and CEO of POP.com LLC, an Internet entertainment venture founded by Imagine Entertainment, the Dreamworks movie studio and Microsoft founder Paul Allen.

In addition to Wong, Westfield named Dimitri Vazelakis as COO for global design and construction. In his new role, he is responsible for directing global design, construction and scheduling for Westfield's portfolio of more than 100 major retail properties in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Westfield's current development pipeline is in excess of $6.5 billion.

The shopping center and operator's John Schroder will continue as joint COO in the US with responsibility for all operations, leasing, management and marketing components of the business.