Member Article

St Johns announces new centre manager

Robert Bradley has been appointed as centre manager of St Johns Shopping Centre, as centre director Ian Ward announces his departure to embark on a new opportunity in retail.

With more than 20 years of experience managing shopping centres around the UK, including eight years at Castle Mall, Norwich, Europe’s largest underground shopping centre, at and three years as the deputy centre manager of St Johns, Bradley begins this role as the lead at St Johns on March 1st.

He comments: “This new role represents a great opportunity and a fantastic challenge. I have watched the shopping centre go from strength to strength under Ian’s guidance and look forward to continuing that trend. St Johns is a true Liverpool landmark and I know the whole team here takes great pride in improving the shopping centre.”

Ian Ward began his time as the centre director of St Johns Shopping Centre in 2011. Since his appointment, Ward has ensured that St Johns stayed fully operational throughout a multimillion pound redevelopment, which saw every area of the centre revamped. Footfall has increased year on year since his appointment, against the backdrop of a tough economic climate.

Ward has acted as chairman of Liverpool City Central Business Improvement District since 2012, and also holds a position on the Board of Trustees at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House.

Speaking of his departure, Ian says: “The five years I’ve spent working at St Johns has been very rewarding, as we’ve continued to prosper in the face of some tough challenges. The centre is a very different place now to when I arrived, and I look forward to watching it develop further under Rob’s guidance. It has been a pleasure to work so closely with the business community in Liverpool, as well as with the team at St Johns and all of our customers.”

“Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, said: ’’Ian has been a tremendous chairman of City Central BID and has made a huge contribution to the way Liverpool city centre is managed and promoted, especially at Christmas.

’‘Ian has been unfailing in the commitment, energy and acumen he has brought to his various roles in the city centre and we will miss him and his industry greatly. We wish him all the success for the future and look forward to working with his successor at St Johns to continue to build on the improvements that have been achieved in recent years.’’

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by St Johns .