Olson will succeed Chaim Katzman as CEO and Doron Valero aspresident. Katzman will continue as chairman of the board, butValero has announced that he will not renew his contract with thecompany to pursue other interests. He will remain with Equity Oneto facilitate the transition.

"I have known Jeff Olson for almost 10 years and have watchedhim excel in his professional career," says Katzman, Equity Onechairman and CEO. "He is a gifted and natural leader. I lookforward to what our company can achieve under his leadership."

Since joining Kimco in 2002, Olson has directed the assetmanagement, leasing, property management, redevelopment andconstruction activities for a 500-property, 54-million-sf shoppingcenter portfolio. Given Equity One's focus on the Southeast andNortheast, Olson also led Kimco's West Coast acquisition program.The company's assets in the region grew from $700 million to $7billion during his tenure.