Current speakers

As the Chief Marketing Officer at Simon, Lee Sterling is responsible for the planning, development and execution of the company’s marketing strategy across its international portfolio of 231 premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations. In this role, she serves as a champion for Simon’s company-wide commitment to innovation, including its industry-leading omnichannel strategy which integrates its in-person experiences with the ease and portability of its digital and e-commerce channels, such as the recently announced ShopSimon.com.

With nearly 25 years of experience in the shopping center industry, Sterling is known for building and transforming brand platforms to help achieve strong business results. Sterling’s expertise includes strategic marketing and brand management, encompassing advertising, experiential, digital, media, public relations and community outreach.

From 2013 to 2020, Sterling served as Simon’s Senior Vice President, Brand Management, where she successfully led brand, digital, and retailer marketing, including Simon’s notable brand re-launch campaign in 2014 to increase engagement with customers and emphasize the power of the shopping experience. Sterling also worked for Westfield for 15 years, where she held vice president roles in both Corporate and Field Marketing. At Westfield, she led high-profile strategic marketing efforts including the company’s National Fashion Platform, featuring event tours and seasonal content in collaboration with celebity stylist Stacy London, and the World Trade Center retail project in Manhattan, which was redeveloped in the wake of 9/11.

Prior to re-joining Simon, Sterling diversified her expertise in the consumer products industry at Edgewell Personal Care, a consumer-centric personal care company. There she led an in-house agency responsible for digital and e-commerce content for well-established and disruptor brands including Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Billie, Jack Black and others. Sterling holds a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Connecticut.