Hilco Global Taps Retail Mastermind for Experiential Real Estate Push

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – January 08, 2026 – In a significant move signaling a deepened commitment to the future of retail, diversified financial services firm Hilco Global has appointed Mitch Friedel, a renowned architect of modern retail environments, as Executive Director of Retail Development Advisory and Leasing. The strategic hire is poised to supercharge the firm’s real estate practice, leveraging Friedel’s three decades of experience to capitalize on the booming market for experiential "Lifestyle" and "Town Center" mixed-use developments.

This appointment is more than just a new name on the masthead; it represents a calculated maneuver by Hilco, now bolstered by the financial might of its parent company, ORIX Corporation USA. The firm is positioning itself not just as an advisor but as a fully integrated capital and services partner for developers looking to build the next generation of consumer destinations.

A Calculated Bet on Experiential Retail's Dominance

Hilco's strategic focus comes at a pivotal moment for the retail sector. While headlines once fixated on the "retail apocalypse," a powerful counter-narrative has emerged: the renaissance of physical, experience-driven shopping. Market data indicates the global experiential retail market is on an explosive growth trajectory, projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 14% through 2032. Consumers, particularly younger demographics, are demonstrating a clear preference for immersive environments that blend shopping with dining, entertainment, and community engagement.

This shift has fueled the rise of mixed-use Town Centers and Lifestyle developments—vibrant, walkable hubs designed for living, working, and playing. They stand in stark contrast to the monolithic, transactional shopping malls of the past. By bringing in an expert dedicated to this high-growth niche, Hilco Global is placing a firm bet on the idea that the future of brick-and-mortar retail lies in creating compelling destinations, not just places to buy goods. The firm is preparing to guide its clients through the complexities of "placemaking," a discipline that combines strategic tenant curation, architectural vision, and community programming to forge destinations with lasting appeal and value.

The Architect of Iconic Destinations

The choice of Mitch Friedel to lead this charge is telling. His resume reads like a portfolio of North America's most successful and transformative mixed-use projects. With a career spanning three decades, Friedel has been a central figure in developments that have redefined their urban landscapes.

His early-career work on the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, which earned him a coveted spot on Crain's "Rising Stars: 40 Under 40" list, showcased his ability to transform a location into a luxury shopping destination through relentless strategic leasing. He was also instrumental in the $1 billion redevelopment of Disney Springs in Orlando, a project that masterfully converted a dated shopping area into a world-class retail and entertainment district. Other high-profile projects like CityPlace in West Palm Beach further cement his reputation as a leader in creating vital, high-performing environments.

Neil Aaronson, President of Hilco Global (Americas) and Executive Director of Real Estate Advisory, highlighted the unique value Friedel brings. "Mitch brings a history of successful outcomes for some of the most healthy and vibrant large-scale retail and mixed-use developments in numerous high-growth North American markets," Aaronson stated in the official announcement. "His unique experience, relationships, and access across an ecosystem of retail brands will significantly enhance our ability to support clients seeking to grow their brick-and-mortar footprints in a strategic, market-driven manner." Friedel's expertise extends across the entire project lifecycle, from developing initial tenant mix strategies and identifying anchor occupiers to executing full-cycle leasing programs.

Beyond Advisory: The Power of Integrated Capital

Perhaps the most disruptive element of Hilco's strategy is the financial firepower it now wields. The 2025 acquisition of a majority stake in Hilco Global by ORIX Corporation USA, a global financial services giant, has fundamentally altered the company's capabilities. The press release alludes to this, noting that Friedel's addition will "provide direct lending opportunities due to our enriched balance sheet capital base."

This integration of world-class advisory with substantial, in-house capital solutions creates a formidable one-stop-shop offering for developers. Where competitors may only provide consulting or brokerage services, Hilco can now offer a seamless package of strategic planning, leasing expertise, and the necessary financing to bring ambitious projects to life. This synergy allows the firm to move faster and offer more competitive, flexible capital structures, from short-term bridge debt to joint venture equity.

Friedel himself acknowledged this unique competitive advantage. "I am thrilled to join Hilco Global, an organization with significant retail experience and momentum, having developed a unique integrated platform offering professional services, principal investing, and capital solutions," he stated. "My clients will welcome Hilco Global expertise in long-term asset value creation, which uniquely combines real estate acumen as an owner and services provider alongside a substantial capacity to infuse competitive capital solutions." This model positions Hilco to compete not only with traditional real estate service firms like CBRE and JLL but also to act as a strategic partner on par with major developers, deeply aligning its interests with the long-term success of its clients' projects.

With Friedel at the helm of its retail development advisory and the backing of ORIX USA's balance sheet, Hilco Global is making an aggressive play to redefine the advisory landscape. The firm is no longer just a service provider; it is an end-to-end solutions partner equipped to shape the future of retail real estate across key growth markets in North America.