THERE has been movement within the senior ranks of Westfield in WA.
Westfield Galleria centre manager Paul Lopez has resigned, leaving the Morley shopping centre in the hands of assistant centre manager Kirilly van Ryil.
Mr Lopez has not yet been replaced and Westfield staff are uncertain who will fill the position or even when it will be filled.
Company sources believe Mr Lopez will leave the industry and return to Queensland where he will put his masters in business administration to good use.
Speaking at a recent Aust-ralian Property Institute seminar, he likened Westfield shopping centres to an octopus with hundreds of tentacles ensnaring its prey and leaving smaller centres for dead.
He said the smaller centres had to focus on convenience and develop a niche at either the quality or value end of the market.
WA Retailers Association CEO Martin Dempsey said Mr Lopez would be missed within the State’s retail market.
Another to leave the West-field fold is WA leasing executive Darryl Ashworth who has moved to AMP to handle the leasing for its Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
Mr Ashworth has been replaced by Kim Thomason, who was AMP’s leasing executive at the recently redeveloped Garden City Shopping Centre.
Mr Thomason will be in charge of leasing at Westfield’s Morley, Carousel and Innaloo centres.