FESTIVAL Place has appointed a new centre director who says she is "excited" to build on the commercial success and reputation of the shopping centre.
Vicky Hickson, an experienced retail industry leader, has been appointed as the new centre director at Festival Place in Basingstoke.
With more than 20 years working in retail management under her belt, Vicky has spent the last 16 of those at the helm of The Friary shopping centre in Guildford where she has overseen significant development.
She replaces Neil Churchill who is heading up the leadership team at Brent Cross in London.
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Vicky said: "I wasn’t really looking to move from my current post, but this opportunity came along and I just had to go for it.
"There are many challenges facing high street retail, but I have never shied away from a challenge.
"I am very aware of the importance of Festival Place not just as a shopping destination, but as a town centre and an important focus for the local community.
"Wherever I have worked, I have been passionate about local communities and about ensuring the shopping destinations in those areas support them in the best work they can.
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"I feel particularly strongly about Festival Place as it is, effectively, the town centre and a place where members of the community work, shop, eat and enjoy themselves.
"Of course, I am excited about continuing to build on the commercial success and reputation of Festival Place as a top 20 UK shopping centre."
Festival Place recently announced that Superbowl UK, Hans Buffet and Heavenly Desserts are joining the centre, along with café Boswells. Other new brands which have recently opened include Slim Chickens, Rituals and Sostrene Grene.
As a mother to two young boys, Vicky said she understands how important families are to the success of Festival Place.
"I live for family time, and know how precious and important that time is,” she says. “We know it is a privilege that families choose to spend their time here – whether that’s shopping, eating, watching a film at Vue or having fun at Flip Out. Making that experience as enjoyable as possible is what drives us.
"The challenge ahead for us as a team is to reaffirm Festival Place as a destination – attracting people from the wider catchment area for shopping and leisure while making sure that people who live in Basingstoke feel no need to go elsewhere."
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