Macerich Co. has announced that Thomas O’Hern, its chief financial officer, treasurer and senior executive vice president, will become its chief executive officer effective New Year’s Day 2019.

O’Hern will succeed Arthur Coppola, who last week announced his retirement from the company he has led for 25 years. Coppola’s last day at the helm of Macerich will be Dec. 31.

Scott Kingsmore, Macerich’s senior vice president of finance, will take over O’Hern’s current duties on Jan. 1 as part of the transition. O’Hern has been Macerich’s CFO since 1994.

Macerich owns multiple shopping malls, including a 25 percent interest in Westside Pavilion in Westwood, which has been slated to redevelop into creative office space. Its other local properties include Santa Monica Place, Lakewood Center and Los Cerritos Center shopping malls.

Real estate reporter Ciaran McEvoy can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8337.