NATIONAL AWARD FOR SHOPPING CENTRE MANAGER

Carmarthen’s Merlin’s Walk shopping centre manager John Nash has been named Shopping Centre Manager of the Year 2010 at a ceremony in Manchester.

Mr Nash was chosen ahead of  nearly 50 shopping centre managers by Merlin’s Walk managing agents Workman Retail, largely for his significant contribution to the re-branding of the centre from Greyfriars to Merlin’s Walk last year.

He was presented with the Darren Webb award by Workman Retail senior partner James Taylor who paid tribute to Mr Nash’s dedication and hard work throughout the year. Darren Webb, who died in 2006 aged only 40, was manager of Workman’s Ryemarket Shopping Centre in the west Midlands.

Mr Nash, who is treasurer of Carmarthen Chamber of Commerce and a governor of Idole School, was nominated for the award by surveyors at Workman Retail’s offices in Bristol. The company also has offices in Paris, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cambridge. and Swindon.

A former RAF electrician/technician, Mr Nash was health and safety manager and shop controller at the aerospace manufacturing facility at RAF St Athan, near Cardiff before taking over as operations manager at Greyfriars in 2004. He became shopping centre manager the following year.

Mr Nash said he was delighted and proud to receive the award in the face of stiff competition from such a large number of his peers and said it was reward and recognition not only for himself but for his staff at Merlin’s Walk who had contributed to the success of the centre throughout the year and worked hard in the re-branding project.