Candidate Spotlight: Gary Cook, Centre Manager, The Pavilions Shopping Centre

Foundation Recruitment caught up with Gary Cook, Centre Manager, The Pavilions Shopping Centre, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire to hear all about his career experience to date.

Tell us about your previous career experience and how you came to work in the shopping centre industry. 

Leisure and hospitality Manager by background. I was General Manager of Hylands House and Park – Grade II* listed wedding and conference venue and home of the V Festival. Prior to that, I worked as General Manager of UK Coastal Holiday Parks for Bourne Leisure and Park Resorts.

I came to work in Shopping Centres through Shaunagh Durkin at Foundation Recruitment! It has been a very positive move, a real challenge to drive the Centre forward but having the autonomy to affect this and a platform to achieve change has been rewarding.

What are your interests outside of work?

I am a keen runner and weight trainer and a strong supporter and follower of Everton Football Club.

What are your future plans for the shopping centre?

• Phased development of the central and common areas to update and modernise followed by improvements on the multi-storey car park.
• Greater emphasis on partnership working, including working with local government on a rebranding and development scheme for the High Street and surrounding area

It’s a tough market place, but continuing to embrace technology and staying agile from a retail perspective will pay off. Centre management need to continue to innovate and provide the right environment for retailers and shoppers alike.

Gary Cook, Centre Manager, The Pavilions Shopping Centre, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire