Jeanette Bennett

Jeanette has 25+ years’ experience in managing and leasing Malls. This includes mall redevelopment, opening of new malls, managing multiple country regional properties and a specialist CBD mall for owners, Sussan Property Group, MCS & Thakral Holdings Group and for Agents, including Jones Lang La Salle and FPD Savills. Jeanette has twice been asked to return to former employers in more senior positions.

Jeanette worked in Dubai from 2004 to 2014. Jeanette held the position of Senior Leasing Manager for The Dubai Mall (owned by Emaar – the Middle East’s largest Developer) She was responsible for leasing the Luxury and Premium fashion, luxury jewellery and children’s wear brands. As such she undertook presentations to some of the World’s leading retailers, Louis Vuitton (Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO at LVMH), Ermenegildo Zegna (CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna) Tiffany (Darren Chen, Group VP), Estee Lauder (Leonard Lauder, Chairman) and Tom Ford. Having secured the first store for the Middle East, Jeanette was invited to the official opening to meet with Tom Ford. Jeanette undertook space planning and tenancy mix, working with some of the world’s leading brands as they vied for positions in what was to be one of the World’s largest shopping Malls and has now proven to be one of the most successful.

In 2007 Jeanette moved to Nakheel, the master developer of The Palm to undertake the same role for the luxury Mall planned as the centrepiece of the island. Jeanette was also involved in space planning, tenancy mix and budgets for 5 other Malls before the GFC came. Jeanette then undertook 180 rent renewals at Ibn Battuta Mall which produced an excellent result and was rewarded with a trip to the USA to visit 5 cities, 32 malls and the ICSC Conference in May 2008.

In 2010 Jeanette joined IFA Hotels & Resorts who are the largest private property developer on The Palm. Again space planning, tenancy mix, budgets and asset management with a portfolio of 5 properties, 184 leases covering 40,000m2.