Shopping Centre team says fond farewell as new Centre Manager is appointed

A Hull-based shopping centre has appointed a new Centre Manager as it bids farewell to Lee Appleton after his appointment to oversee two shopping centres in West Yorkshire.

Maria Kamper, who has extensive experience in retail operations over the last two decades, takes on the new role of Centre Manager at Prospect Centre and has left her role as Centre Manager of the Promenades Shopping Centre in Bridlington, where she has worked tirelessly over the last four years.

Maria has helped transform the Promenades Shopping Centre since she took over in 2013, helping to position the centre at the heart of the community with a 100% occupancy rate. Upon starting the role at the Bridlington centre, there was a 29% vacancy rate. Maria also studied for the BCSC Shopping Centre Management Diploma and graduated in July 2016. Both Promenades Shopping Centre and Prospect Centre are owned by NewRiver Retail.

Part of the agenda for the shopping centre this year is to further position itself at the heart of the community during City of Culture 2017 with a range of initiatives and a comprehensive events calendar to help drive people into the city centre. The centre is also undergoing a rebrand project, with a new look for the centre anticipated to be live later this year.

Maria said: “I am delighted to become Centre Manager for Prospect Centre. 2017 is going to be a fantastic year for Hull and I am thrilled to be at the heart of the activity.

“Having worked for a NewRiver Retail Centre myself in my most recent role, this is an exciting challenge for me with many projects in the pipeline for the near future. I am ready to take on the challenge of managing a well-known, bigger scheme with new people.

“It is such a fantastic opportunity to take on the role of Centre Manager at this stage in the Centre’s evolution, I couldn’t think of a better time to join Prospect Centre during Hull’s City of Culture year.

“I am incredibly driven to work with retailers within the Centre and all the customers who shop with us to provide the best experience possible.”