Sahara Centre's new GM has big plans for Sharjah's leading shopping and entertainment centre

Dean brings with him 10 years of experience in retail and mall management. Dean began his career in the industry when he was selected to join the graduate training programme of a bluechip department store retail chain in the UK.

Starting on the sales floor and progressing - with the assistance of various work placements in specialist divisions - through the training scheme, his work took him to various stores around the UK taking on sales manager's positions and given increasing responsibilities.

Upon hearing about opportunities for employment in the Middle East, he applied to join in one of the region's largest retail organisations and was subsequently accepted, leaving an already successful career in the UK in pursuit of the different challenges the Middle East had to offer.

After a short stint in Bahrain, Dean spent a further two years in Kuwait where he occupied a variety of retail positions in the same company that eventually led, before his departure, to an area manager's role across several territories.

Despite enjoying the experience and gaining an insight into the region's retail market, Dean took on an offer to join one of Dubai's premier shopping destinations as an assistant general manager. Aware of the promising growth potential of the retail industry in the region and keen to expand his knowledge, Dean's decision to move proved to be beneficial as he became more involved in mall management, thus broadening his experience and expanding his expertise to now include knowledge of the leasing and management of a successful shopping destination in an increasingly competitive environment.

After four very fruitful years, Sahara Centre offered Dean the opportunity to take on the role of general manager with a brief to lead one of the UAE's premiere shopping and entertainment destinations into becoming more competitive and achieving greater levels of customer satisfaction and business success.

"I am delighted to be heading one of the leading shopping and entertainment centres in the UAE," said Dean John, General Manager, Sahara Centre.

"I consider it both a privilege and a challenge to lead this centre into becoming a regional benchmark for shopping and entertainment. While we already have world-class shops and facilities, we will be unrelenting in our pursuit of upgrading the quality of our offering to ensure that customers enjoy their experience every time they visit."

Under John's leadership, Sahara Centre hopes to continue its aggressive pursuit of regional growth beginning with the completion of its expansion plans this year, which includes having more prestige brands as well as new and exciting entertainment facilities to better serve its clients and attract new ones as it also bids to become a preferred destination among GCC and Western tourists visiting the UAE.