From left: Sandeep Mathrani, Alan Barocas and Andrew Perel
Mall owner General Growth Properties’ incoming CEO, Sandeep Mathrani, has appointed new members to his executive team, the Wall Street Journal reported. Alan Barocas, who spent 25 years at Gap before leaving in April 2006 to operate his own consultancy, will join General Growth to oversee leasing for its malls. General Growth also hired Richard Pesin — formerly executive vice president of retail development for real estate developer Forest City Ratner — as its executive vice president of anchor stores, development and construction. [more]

Richard Pesin, an executive vice president with Forest City Ratner Companies, the group behind the controversial Atlantic Yards development project, has been identified as the purchaser of a $4.1 million penthouse apartment at the Prime, a condo at 333 West 14th Street. The Real Deal reported the sale of the 4,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse with three balconies and a private roof terrace Dec. 18, but did not know the identity of the buyer. The development, which up until recently had difficulty moving units, is being represented by R.P. Miller. R.P. Miller did not immediately respond to The Real Deal’s requests for comment. [more]