A SELF-CONFESSED shopaholic with a substantial shoe collection has stepped into her new role as a Bolton shopping centre manager.

Paula Wood has been appointed as manager at Crompton Place Shopping Centre in the heart of the town centre after relocating from Brierley Hill in the West Midlands where she has lived all of her life.

Paula, aged 45, who is the proud owner of well over 100 pairs of shoes, said: “I do like shopping, I have to confess, and I enjoy fashion. I would have to describe myself as a bit of a ‘shoeaholic’. I have well over 100 pairs of shoes from flip flops to boots, to heels and flats in just about every colour you can think of.

“I think probably my most expensive purchase was a pair of designer Alice Temperley but I also have a lot in my collection from the high street too. I really do like a nice pair of shoes.”

Paula is also passionate about the Lancashire countryside which she fell in love with while visiting her partner in Lytham St Annes.

Now living in Lytham, she made the big move north from her manager’s role at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill to take the top job at Crompton Place which is home to big name stores and eateries such as Bhs, Primark, Subway, Boots and Beaverbrooks.

Paula, who has a 17-year-old daughter Georgina, said: “The Lancashire area is just so beautiful. It’s the tranquillity, the accent, the friendliness of the people and I just felt instantly that it was an area where I could feel very happy, safe and secure.

“I am already very impressed with the architecture in Bolton. You only have to look out over Victoria Square from the shopping centre and there are all these fantastic old buildings and I know it is a town with an extremely rich heritage and that definitely appealed to me too.”

Paula began her working career at the tender age of 16 working her way up from an office junior to the PA of the Managing Director of a design company.

She continued to enjoy a high-flying career when she took on the role of PA to the Vice President of American Express Travel which saw her visit many cities around the world including New York, Toronto, Miami, Cannes, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, and Stockholm.

She was also well known as the chief organiser of the company’s Christmas party which one particularly challenging year involved her organising for 514 employees to travel from offices all over the UK to a festive bash aboard a Stena Sealink Ferry.

“That was definitely a challenge but an enjoyable one,” laughed Paula.

After having her daughter, Paula worked briefly at a Ford dealership and then returned to her former role as a PA, this time for the Chief Executive of a PLC Manufacturing Company.

She later moved into a more administrative role before taking on the job of mall manager of Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill, home to more than 200 stores, where she was in charge for eight years.

Paula said: “I am so grateful for this new and exciting opportunity to work at Crompton Place and I am looking forward to taking it from strength to strength.

“Bolton is a lovely town and I am keen for Crompton Place to be at the forefront of what is happening in the community as much as possible.

“For me, it will also be all about continuing to drive footfall into the centre and to understand our customer and what it is they need for the best possible shopping experience so they keep coming back to us.”

The appointment means Bolton's two main shopping centres both have women at the helm, after Nikki Wilson-Cook took over at the market Place in April this year.

For more information about Crompton Place go to www.crompton-place.co.uk or visit the shopping centre’s Facebook and Twitter pages.