Conor Flynn

Conor Flynn has served as CEO of Kimco Realty since 2016, executing a dramatic portfolio transformation at one of the oldest real estate investment trusts in the United States (founded in 1966). When Flynn took over, Kimco owned a sprawling, geographically diverse portfolio of shopping centers with varying quality. He systematically upgraded the portfolio by selling lower-quality assets and concentrating ownership in grocery-anchored, open-air shopping centers in the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas. The strategic thesis was prescient: grocery-anchored centers proved remarkably resilient during both the e-commerce disruption and the COVID-19 pandemic, as essential retail (grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, pet supply stores) drove consistent foot traffic. The 2021 merger with Weingarten Realty for approximately $3.9 billion added high-quality properties in fast-growing Sunbelt markets. The combined portfolio now includes over 500 properties with strong occupancy rates. Flynn has also invested in mixed-use development opportunities, adding residential and office components to well-located retail properties. Key stock drivers include occupancy rates and leasing spreads, grocery anchor tenant health, same-property net operating income growth, interest rate sensitivity (as a REIT), mixed-use development pipeline, and the ongoing debate about the resilience of physical retail in the e-commerce era.