Merry Hill Shopping Centre has a new manager – an American imported from Illinois.

Lucas Ross used to be in charge of a mall in sunny San Diego that is also owned by Merry Hill owner Westfield.

He said he jumped at the chance to move himself and his family to the Black Country to take charge of the centre in the less glamorous surroundings of Brierley Hill. And he confesses he and his family had never heard of household British names like BHS, Debenhams or Primark.

A father to daughters Graysen 10 and Rhiannon  aged five he says his children have adjusted well to the move.

He and wife Tracee have made several trips to Argos where he has bought a bike for his daughter and lamps to furnish their new home in Bromsgrove.

In the US he says Apple stores are very popular and he would like to see one open at Merry Hill.

A keen golfer, Mr Ross added: “I have found the people in the Black Country warm and inviting.The accent has been a bit tricky at times but I am hard for them to understand at times too.”

The 31-year-old  walks the malls of Britain’s third largest shopping centre morning before it opens, describing it as a “a little city”.
Relishing

He said: “I take different people with me each day, although always the cleaning manager Imran.

“I walk in different directions each time to try and see things through the eyes of our shoppers, asking myself whether for example a part of the centre is too dark or if signs are in the right place.”

He said he was relishing the chance to experience the English way of life.

He is now in his third job as manager of one of Westfield’s shopping complexes having graduated from university in Illinois with a finance degree.

“Shopping centres are living and breathing assets unlike most financial companies dealing with ideas and pieces of paper, he said. I really enjoy the interaction with people. We have got great teams of people running what is essentially a little city.

To coin a phrase he says British shoppers want “value for money” and believes Merry Hill has “tremendous” potential.