Paula Protheroe joins Waitrose & Partners Admiral Park as branch manager and a director on the Guernsey board.
Having moved to the island in September from Waitrose’s Warminster branch, Paula replaces Ian Burdekin who has led the Admiral Park branch for the past four years and has moved back to manage the Waitrose Marlborough branch.
Paula has worked for the Partnership for over 30 years having begun her career as a John Lewis weekend sales assistant at the age of 17, while still at school. Since then she has developed a breadth of experience across a number of disciplines including personnel, management development and operational roles in the Partnership’s head office, its department stores and distribution centres.
Paula said: “Ian is handing over the baton to a great team of Partners. As I am responsible for everyone’s welfare I hope to continue to encourage everyone to grow and reach their best potential. Job satisfaction and career development is an essential element of this.”
Other than the day-to-day management of Admiral Park and brand ambassador, Paula is also a director on the Guernsey board. Here she is the local link between the two branches and head office ensuring Waitrose continues to trade profitably and ethically. Helping her board colleagues understand local trading conditions, the impact of any relevant local legislation, logistics and how these things influence trading conditions will also be important elements of her role.
A chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) Paula is also a qualified Neuro Linguistic Practitioner and holds a post graduate City & Guilds degree in Learning Design & Facilitation. She is currently training for an Association for Coaching Accredited Diploma in Coach Training (ADCT).
“I am incredibly excited about taking up this opportunity and in particular talking to customers to understand their shopping experiences and help identify how we can deliver even better services,” she said.
“Guernsey is a beautiful island that took my breath away when I first arrived. Everybody I have met has been really welcoming and helpful and I am looking forward to building strong relationships from both a business and personal point of view.”
