Key Takeaways
- • Leadership Transition: Paul Kurzawa succeeds Steven Levin as CEO of Centennial effective June 30, 2026, after Levin's 29-year tenure as founder and chief executive of the Dallas-based retail real estate platform.
- • Continuity Plan: Levin will remain in an advisory capacity for 12 months post-retirement to ensure seamless transition and will continue as a portfolio client, retaining management of properties including The Shops at Willow Bend.
- • Executive Team Stability: Kurzawa, previously President, expands leadership role with support from established executive team including CFO Jami Wadkins and Chief Revenue Officer Steve Weiss, maintaining organizational continuity.
- • Company Heritage: Centennial, established in 1997 and powered by Lincoln, has built a 30-year track record in retail real estate operations with an owner-focused, entrepreneurial culture that Levin cultivated and Kurzawa will inherit.
- • Strategic Positioning: The transition positions Centennial to advance its multi-discipline retail expertise and revitalization capabilities while leveraging Levin's continued industry involvement and advisory guidance.
Summary
Centennial, a national retail operating platform based in Dallas, has announced a planned leadership succession with Paul Kurzawa assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer on June 30, 2026, succeeding founder and longtime CEO Steven Levin. The transition marks a significant generational shift for a firm Levin established in 1997 and built into a recognized leader in retail real estate operations.
Levin's retirement concludes nearly three decades of active leadership at Centennial. Rather than a complete departure, Levin will remain engaged with the company in an advisory capacity for 12 months following his formal transition, ensuring continuity during the handoff. Additionally, Levin will continue as a client, retaining Centennial's management services for his portfolio properties, including The Shops at Willow Bend, signaling confidence in the organization's direction under new leadership.
Kurzawa, previously serving as President, brings experience in real estate and entertainment sectors to the expanded CEO role. In his statement on the transition, Kurzawa expressed commitment to building upon Levin's foundation, while Levin emphasized confidence in Kurzawa and the broader executive team to lead the company forward. The executive structure includes CFO Jami Wadkins and Chief Revenue Officer Steve Weiss, providing stability and established governance.
Centennial's strategic positioning centers on multi-discipline retail expertise and the revitalization of challenged assets into dynamic community destinations. Levin's owner-focused mindset and retailer's perspective shaped the company's culture around entrepreneurship and inclusion—attributes that Kurzawa has championed and will continue to advance. The succession plan reflects a planned, orderly transition rather than a crisis-driven change, with Levin's advisory role designed to preserve institutional knowledge and client relationships during the critical handoff period.
Levin's retirement concludes nearly three decades of active leadership at Centennial. Rather than a complete departure, Levin will remain engaged with the company in an advisory capacity for 12 months following his formal transition, ensuring continuity during the handoff. Additionally, Levin will continue as a client, retaining Centennial's management services for his portfolio properties, including The Shops at Willow Bend, signaling confidence in the organization's direction under new leadership.
Kurzawa, previously serving as President, brings experience in real estate and entertainment sectors to the expanded CEO role. In his statement on the transition, Kurzawa expressed commitment to building upon Levin's foundation, while Levin emphasized confidence in Kurzawa and the broader executive team to lead the company forward. The executive structure includes CFO Jami Wadkins and Chief Revenue Officer Steve Weiss, providing stability and established governance.
Centennial's strategic positioning centers on multi-discipline retail expertise and the revitalization of challenged assets into dynamic community destinations. Levin's owner-focused mindset and retailer's perspective shaped the company's culture around entrepreneurship and inclusion—attributes that Kurzawa has championed and will continue to advance. The succession plan reflects a planned, orderly transition rather than a crisis-driven change, with Levin's advisory role designed to preserve institutional knowledge and client relationships during the critical handoff period.
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