Nareit joins the REIT community in mourning the passing of James M. Taylor Jr., former CEO of Brixmor Property Group Inc. (NYSE: BRX), whose leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the industry left a lasting impact on colleagues, companies, and the association he served for many years.
Taylor, who retired as CEO of Brixmor in December 2025 after nearly a decade leading the company, has died. In announcing his passing, Brixmor described him as a “transformative leader” whose vision, integrity, and humanity helped shape both the company and the broader real estate industry.
Taylor served on Nareit’s Advisory Board of Governors, the association’s governing body, from November 2016 through January 2020. He joined the Executive Committee in February 2020 and remained in that role until earlier this year. Taylor also served on Nareit’s DTD CEO Council from February 2021 through February 2026. His participation with Nareit reflected his longstanding commitment to supporting the association’s advocacy, investor outreach, and educational initiatives.
Taylor joined Brixmor as CEO in 2016 and led the company through a period of significant transformation and strategic repositioning. Under his leadership, Brixmor strengthened its portfolio, enhanced operations, and further established itself as one of the nation’s leading owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. Before becoming CEO of Brixmor, Taylor served as president and chief investment officer of the REIT. Prior to joining Brixmor, he spent roughly a decade at Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), where he served in senior leadership roles including executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Taylor served on a number of industry organizations and was widely respected across the retail real estate and investment communities. At Nareit conferences and events, he was a frequent participant, sharing insights on market conditions, retail fundamentals, capital allocation, and the evolving opportunities facing REITs.
In a statement released by Brixmor, CEO Brian Finnegan described Taylor as “a trusted mentor, a genuine friend,” who led with “integrity, empathy, and a deep commitment to people.”
Nareit extends its deepest condolences to Taylor’s family and to his many friends, colleagues, and former coworkers.