Business

Manchester Airport boss steps down amid another week of travel chaos

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 5th April 2022

The managing director of Manchester Airport has stepped down from her role after weeks of chaos at the travel hub.

Karen Smart has worked for the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) for eight years but took on the MD position at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Two years after being appointed in the senior role, she is now stepping down.

Passengers travelling through Manchester Airport in recent weeks have been facing long delays and chaotic scenes caused by severe staff shortages.

Karen Smart has stepped down as Manchester Airports Group’s managing director. Credit: MAG

Footage in recent days has shown trays piled up in security and queues snaking all the way out of the doors.

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Karen will now be leaving her position to return to the south of England and ‘pursue fresh career opportunities’, with an interim MD being appointed.

Councillor Pat Karney said: “I have never met Karen so it’s not personal when I say I hope this leads to a reset of Management and Approach at Manchester Airport.”

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Manchester Airport. Credit: MAG

Ian Costigan will take on the role, tackling the programmes of recruitment ahead of the busy summer season.

Ian has been with MAG since 2013 and will now work closely with Ken O’Toole, deputy CEO.

MAG CEO Charlie Cornish said: “Over the last two years, Karen has guided Manchester Airport through the most challenging period of its 84-year history, having made a major contribution to MAG throughout her time with the business.

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“I am sorry to lose Karen after her years of valuable service, but also understand her desire to return to the South for family reasons and indeed to explore new career opportunities. 

“While there are sure to be further challenges ahead, I am confident we will soon start to see the benefits of the recovery plans Karen has helped put in place and look forward to working with Ian and his leadership team to drive them forward.”

Featured image: MAG

Business

First look – Manchester-founded fashion brand Represent opens flagship store in city centre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester-founded fashion brand Represent opens flagship store in city centre

Represent will open the doors to its first-ever UK store this weekend – and of course, the proudly Manc business picked Manchester for its flagship location.

The luxury menswear brand, which is on track for a £100m turnover by the end of this year, is opening a beautiful 5,419sq ft store on New Cathedral Street.

Set to throw open the doors on Saturday 26 October, the stylish space has been decorated with neutral textured walls and parquet floor tiles, with the shape of a giant ‘R’ carved into the staircase.

In this exquisitely designed space, shoppers will be able to browse the range in person, with a second store to follow in London next year.

An entire floor of the new Manchester shop will be dedicated to the Represent performance wear range, 247.

Founded back in 2011 by Bolton-born brothers, George and Mike Heaton, Represent has gone from strength to strength, and has become, far and away, one of the UK’s best-loved luxury fashion labels – proving itself to be a proper local success story for the Greater Manchester region.

Inside the flagship Represent store in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Inside the flagship Represent store in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Inside the flagship Represent store in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

It has collaborated with numerous big-name celebrities since its launch, including Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, and even Manchester’s very-own Liam Gallagher.

Inspired by retro Mancunian designs, Represent’s popular ranges of t-shirts, hoodies, and trainers are regularly showcased at top fashion destinations worldwide.

Represent has been stocked in major department stores like Selfridges, Harrods and END, but this will be their biggest step away from their hugely successful online business model to date.

It will join neighbours such as Louis Vuitton, Selfridges, Paul Smith, Canada Goose, and Harvey Nichols in the heart of Manchester’s shopping district.

Represent Manchester opens this weekend. Credit: Supplied
Represent Manchester opens this weekend. Credit: Supplied
Represent Manchester opens this weekend. Credit: Supplied
Represent Manchester opens this weekend. Credit: Supplied

George Heaton, Creative Director and Founder of Represent: “As we continue to grow as a brand, opening our first physical UK store was a natural progression.

“Given that Represent was born in Manchester, and it’s where our global HQ is based, the city was the only choice – it is in our DNA.

“The Represent Manchester location marks an important and iconic milestone for the brand; having spent the past three years planning physical retail footprints, trialling the senses of energy, look, feel, and scent through our partners such as Selfridges and Harrods along the process.”

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Featured Image – Supplied

Business

Popular city centre coffee house Michaels to open new Manchester Arndale cafe

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Arndale is set to welcome another new resident very soon.

Michaels Coffee House is already one of the best-loved places to get your caffeine fix and a bite to eat in the city centre, but now it’s been announced this week that it’ll become the next independent Manchester business to move into Manchester Arndale after signing a 10-year lease to occupy a space on Halle Place.

The beloved business was founded by Thanasis Michael back in 2017, and has been serving up high-quality and ethically-sourced coffee in Manchester’s Royal Exchange ever since.

As well as offering an extensive range of hot and cold coffee drinks, you can also get smoothies, milkshakes, and juices, as well as curb your hunger cravings with toasties, breakfast buns, soups, pancakes, and so much more.

Popular city centre coffee house Michaels is opening a new Manchester Arndale cafe / Credit: Michaels Coffee House (via Instagram)

You can also satisfy your sweet tooth with a collection of different pastries, cakes, and cookies.

Everything you know and love about Michaels, including all of the limited-edition seasonal specials launched each year, will be moving to the city’s biggest shopping centre very soon.

Speaking on the announcement of Michaels’ move to the Arndale, Scott Linard, who is the Portfolio Manager for M&G Real Estate – one of the joint asset management companies for Manchester Arndale – said: “It’s great to welcome another growing Manchester-based business to the centre as we continue our commitment of supporting local independent brands who are seeking to grow their presence in the city.”

Steve Gray, who is the Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, called Michaels an “exciting independent cafe” providing shoppers with a great choice of food and drink options.

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No formal opening date for Michaels Coffee House in Manchester Arndale has been confirmed at this point, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements.

Featured Image – Supplied

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