BIG Shopping Centers USA, Inc. (BIG USA) is a subsidiary of the Israeli parent company BIG Shopping Centers, Ltd. (publicly traded in the Tel Aviv stock exchange, TASE: BIG). BIG USA is a shopping center owner and operator company headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. The company partnered with leading US shopping center operators and owners to locate and acquire quality shopping centers and retail portfolios across the United States. In 2021 BIG USA started selling its portfolio, and since June 2021 had successfully sold 18 of ts shopping centers valued at over $1.1 Billion. Its current portfolio consists of 7 shopping centers across the United States, totaling 2.5 million square feet with an aggregate value of over $550 million.
In Israel, BIG Shopping Centers, Ltd. is a fully integrated development, leasing, management, and marketing company known for its “gold standard”. This drive for excellence continues in the United States with a business model that varies from the Israeli parent company.
BIG Shopping Centers Ltd. (BIG), Headquartered in Herzelia, Israel, was founded in 1994 by Yehuda Naftali with the vision of developing American styled open-air shopping centers in Israel. Today, the company operates in three countries – Israel, the United States, and Serbia – and has ownership (entire or partnership) in 62 projects, 46 of them operational shopping centers and 15 under development. In addition, BIG owns three logistic centers in France. BIG is a publicly traded company, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and listed in the TA 125 Index (top 125 companies in the stock exchange). The company’s cap in December 2021 was $3.45 billion and its total balance sheet assets was $8.65 billion.
Founder
Yehuda Naftali’s real estate career began in West Hollywood and the Los Angeles Westside. With more than 40 years of experience in the business Yehuda specializes in strategic site assessment, construction, and management.
Show MoreYehuda Naftali’s real estate career began in West Hollywood and the Los Angeles Westside. With more than 40 years of experience in the business Yehuda specializes in strategic site assessment, construction, and management. With his expertise he pioneered the open-air shopping center concept in Israel.
Mr. Naftali founded Big Shopping Centers, Ltd. in 1994, and BIG Shopping Centers USA, Inc. in 2010. His accomplishments have led to great success and he continues to hold a role in BIG’s growth by navigating the company’s goals and strategies.
Director
Eitan Bar Zeev is the Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer for Big Shopping Centers, Ltd. and a Director for BIG USA, serving as the principal leader for the implementation of BIG’s overall business strategies in all markets around the world.
Show MoreEitan Bar Zeev is the Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer for Big Shopping Centers, Ltd. and a Director for BIG USA, serving as the principal leader for the implementation of BIG’s overall business strategies in all markets around the world. Under his leadership, BIG became one of the three largest retail real estate groups in Israel, and a worldwide shopping center group with investments in the United States, Serbia, and India. Since Mr. Bar Zeev joined the company in 2004, there was more than a tenfold increase in BIG’s net worth. This was accomplished primarily by restructuring the company’s debt and going public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2006.
Prior to joining BIG, Mr. Bar Zeev functioned as President of the McDonald’s Corporation in Israel. Eitan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in retail marketing and brand building to BIG’s portfolio and continues to spearhead the company’s advancement.
Eitan Bar Zeev is an Economics graduate of the highly acclaimed Hebrew University of Jerusalem, known for their eight Nobel Prize winners throughout the last decade alone.
Director
Mr. Galis serves as the Chief Executive Director for Big Shopping Centers, Ltd. and a Director for BIG USA. Mr. Galis joined BIG in 2003 and has been involved in almost every major deal the company had since.
Show MoreMr. Galis serves as the Chief Executive Director for Big Shopping Centers, Ltd. and a Director for BIG USA. Mr. Galis joined BIG in 2003 and has been involved in almost every major deal the company had since. Mr. Galis has over 20 years of experience in retail real estate, with a focus on management, leasing and marketing.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Bar serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for BIG USA. He relocated to the US in 2017 to implement distinctive strategies for BIG USA and optimize the value of the company’s portfolio.
Show MoreMichael Bar serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for BIG USA. He relocated to the US in 2017 to implement distinctive strategies for BIG USA and optimize the value of the company’s portfolio.
Before relocating to the US, Mr. Bar served as the first Vice President of Overseas Business Development for the BIG group. He navigated the company’s business in the United States, India, and Serbia, and was highly involved in all BIG’s transactions in those countries. These transactions included over fifteen acquisitions, joint ventures, and dispositions. Divestitures ranged in size from $10 million to $100+ million per transaction.
Prior to joining BIG in 2008, Mr. Bar practiced law at Fisher, Behar, Chen, Well, Orion & Co. (FBC), one of Israel’s largest law firms.
Michael Bar holds a European Master’s in Law and Economics, LL.M. (EMLE program, Universities of Rotterdam, Bologna and Aix-en-Provence), as well as an MBA (Finance and Marketing), a Law degree (LLB) and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Tel Aviv University.
Chief Financial Officer
Elad Pedy serves as Chief Financial Officer for BIG USA. In this role, he oversees accounting, external reporting (mainly to the Israeli publicly traded parent company), financial planning & analysis, treasury and IT functions, as well as communication with lenders and JV partners.
Show MoreElad Pedy serves as Chief Financial Officer for BIG USA. In this role, he oversees accounting, external reporting (mainly to the Israeli publicly traded parent company), financial planning & analysis, treasury and IT functions, as well as communication with lenders and JV partners.
Before relocating to the US in 2015 and becoming the CFO of BIG USA and BRAM, Mr. Pedy was Controller for BIG Israel. He was responsible for all global reporting, accounting (IFRS & U.S. GAAP), and financial planning & analysis.
Prior to his tenure for the BIG group, Mr. Pedy worked with Ernst & Young.
Mr. Pedy has a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from The Hebrew University, an MBA with a Finance emphasis from The College of Management Academic Studies and is a Certified Public Accountant in Israel.
Chief Operating Officer
Eran Levy serves as Chief Operating Officer for BIG USA. He is responsible for overseeing all real estate operations, including the company’s asset management, portfolio management, property management, marketing, and leasing.
Show MoreEran Levy serves as Chief Operating Officer for BIG USA. He is responsible for overseeing all real estate operations, including the company’s asset management, portfolio management, property management, marketing, and leasing.
Before relocating to the US in 2017 as COO, he served in several senior operation roles for BIG Israel since 2007. These roles include Manager of BIG’s first mall in Serbia, which is the largest shopping center in BIG’s portfolio outside the US, and Director of the company’s portfolio in the southern region of Israel.
Eran Levy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Ben-Gurion university in Israel.
Vice President, Legal
Assistant Controller
* Photos by Everardo Keeme, Photo Fusion Studio www.photofusionstudio.com.
BIG USA is a strategic equity partner for U.S. owners and operators of shopping centers.
BRAM provides expertise and collaboration with our partners to maximize asset value.
BIG USA is nimble and predicated on efficient entrepreneurial decision making and execution.
BIG USA is well positioned to invest in shopping centers for long-term growth with the strength of our parent company behind us.
BIG USA is part of an international brand with a commitment to providing consumers with an enjoyable shopping experience.
We are pursuing interests in individual and portfolio opportunities to grow our market share in the United States.