Centre director appointed at Highcross Leicester
Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester has announced the appointment of Michelle Menezes as centre director.
Menezes brings over a decade of retail and centre management experience, having worked with brands such as Debenhams, New Look, River Island. Most recently, she was the shopping centre director at Princesshay in Exeter.
Her arrival follows a year during which brands including Castore, Butterwick Bakery, and Sunglass Hut joined the scheme.
The appointment marks a return to Highcross for Menezes, who had worked in a number of the centre’s stores during the early days of her career.
Highcross said Menezes will aim to bolster the its growing food and beverage offering, while also bringing in well-known brands in fashion, beauty, and homeware. She will also look to introduce more experiential opportunities including pop-up shops and events as a means to introduce more footfall to the scheme.
Menezes will also lead a number of key investments over the coming year, including a brand refresh for the scheme and the planned redevelopment of the centre’s four entrances.
Michelle Menezes, centre director at Highcross Shopping Centre
Michelle Menezes said: “Highcross is more than just a shopping and leisure destination – it’s a place where people visit, spend time together and create memories. It’s been a part of the fabric of Leicester for almost 35 years, and my vision is to lead the centre through its next chapter, to see it really thrive. Our goal is to elevate Highcross to become the go-to destination for leisure and retail in the East Midlands; blending sought-after retail offerings with the city’s community and heritage.
“We’re listening closely to what our customers want, and that feedback is shaping our strategy for this year and the years to come. From introducing popular brands and investing in a talented team, to reimagining the look and feel of the centre – every decision we make will be designed to ensure Highcross stands out, highlighting Leicester for the great city that it is.
“The upcoming refresh of our brand is just one part of that journey. Alongside that, we’re focusing on investing in the centre for the future, fostering stakeholder relationships that benefit both the centre and city, and driving footfall with tailored marketing and engaging experiences that ensure our customers keep coming back. Retail and leisure, as always, is evolving rapidly, and Highcross will be ready to lead the way.”
In addition, a further trio of appointments have been made at Highcross: Kirsty Freudenreich – who has worked for the likes of Westfield, Intu, and McArthurGlen Group – has joined as head of operations, while Helen Bevins and Lee Woulidge have been appointed as senior marketing manager and technical services manager respectively.