Simon Property Group CEO David Simon dies at 64, leaving succession questions for Indianapolis-based mall giant
Longtime leader of the nation’s largest mall owner
David Simon, the chairman, chief executive officer and president of Simon Property Group, died Sunday, March 22, 2026, at age 64. Simon Property Group is headquartered in downtown Indianapolis and is widely recognized as the largest publicly traded U.S. owner of shopping malls and premium outlets.
Simon had held the top executive role since 1995 and had been chairman since 2007. He also served as a director dating back to the company’s incorporation in the early 1990s and had previously led the predecessor company as president in the mid-1990s. His academic background included a business degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Leadership transition underway after years of planned depth-building
Simon Property Group has taken public steps in recent years to expand its senior leadership bench. In August 2025, the company appointed Eli Simon—David Simon’s son—to chief operating officer, a move that placed operational oversight and strategic investment execution under a single senior role working closely with the CEO. That same announcement elevated two longtime executives, Jonathan Murphy and Eric Sadi, to co-presidents of North American Real Estate, with responsibility for the company’s U.S. and Canada real estate platforms and leasing and asset-management strategies.
The company had also disclosed in 2024 that David Simon was undergoing therapeutic treatment for cancer while intending to continue in his roles.
Business context: a mall portfolio shaped by redevelopment and consolidation
Simon Property Group’s scale and portfolio composition were central to David Simon’s tenure. Over the decades, the company expanded through major transactions and platform development across malls and outlets, while also pursuing redevelopment of existing centers as retail demand and tenant needs evolved.
In late 2025, Simon completed a full buyout of Taubman Realty Group, consolidating ownership of an upscale mall platform that Simon had partially owned since 2020. The transaction further increased the company’s exposure to high-performing regional centers at a time when mall operators have been balancing redevelopment needs, shifting tenant mixes, and competition from e-commerce.
Corporate governance and next steps
As of last year’s proxy disclosures, David Simon remained a significant insider shareholder and central figure in the company’s governance structure. The board’s next actions are expected to clarify near-term leadership responsibilities, including whether an interim chief executive will be named and how executive duties will be allocated among existing officers.
Date of death: March 22, 2026
Age: 64
Headquarters of company: Indianapolis, Indiana
COO appointed in 2025: Eli Simon
Simon Property Group’s leadership structure had been evolving in public view, with expanded executive appointments and role definitions before David Simon’s death.