General Growth Properties Inc., the Chicago-based shopping-mall owner whose shares have fallen 95 percent this year, replaced Chief Executive Officer John Bucksbaum, who resigned yesterday, with interim CEO Adam S. Metz.

Bucksbaum, 52, will remain General Growth's chairman, the company said today in a regulatory filing. Thomas H. Nolan Jr. will be interim president in place of Robert Michaels, who resigned from that post yesterday. Michaels will remain General Growth's chief operating officer, and gave up his seat on the company's board.

General Growth's shares have tumbled on concern that the company won't be able to refinance about $1.2 billion of debt due this year. The debt stems partly from its $11.3 billion purchase of Rouse Co. in 2004. General Growth earlier this month suspended dividend payments and fired Chief Financial Officer Bernard Freibaum after he sold 2.95 million shares to meet margin calls on loans.

General Growth said today it hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Eastdil Secured to help sell its retail properties in Las Vegas: Fashion Show Mall, Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, and the Shoppes at the Palazzo. The company also said it's working with lenders to extend the Nov. 28 maturity on loans on Fashion Show Mall and the Palazzo. The company is reviewing "all financial and strategic alternatives," according to the filing.

General Growth's Hawai'i holdings include Ala Moana Center and Ward Centers.