A shopping centre manager who was brought in to attract new brands and improve standards is set to leave to take over a rival retail destination.

Paul McCarthy, the current general manager at the Castle Mall in Norwich, has been confirmed as the new boss at intu Chapelfield.

His appointment comes after Davina Tanner, who had been at the helm at Chapelfield for six years, decided to leave intu at the end of May to focus on her external businesses and other interests and opportunities.

Mr McCarthy will start his new role in the near future, in the meantime intu Chapelfield marketing manager Sheridan Smith and operations manager Jo Bates have taken joint responsibility for running the centre with the support of regional centre director Paul Lancaster.

A spokesman for intu Chapelfield said: 'intu Properties is pleased to confirm that Paul McCarthy has been appointed General Manager at intu Chapelfield. Paul will be taking up his new post in the near future.'

Mr McCarthy moved to Norfolk in 2009 with his wife. He joined the Castle Mall at the end of 2012 after two years as the centre manager at Freeport Braintree Outlet Shopping Village in Essex. Over the last two years, he has overseen a half a million pound spend on the Castle Mall's food court and plans to spend £3m over the next three years on lifts and escalators.

Owners InfraRed also announced plans this year to attract six businesses into a new restaurant quarter surrounding the shopping centre's Timberhill entrance, and won planning permission for a £1m revamp of the Back Of The Inns entrance to the Castle Mall.

Rob Cossey, director at Hark Group, the asset manager for the Castle Mall, said: 'We are really sorry to see Paul go and wish him well.

'We will start the recruitment process straight away and will make an announcement in due course.'

He said Mr McCarthy's forthcoming departure will not alter the plans for the shopping centre.

Are you helping to further cement Norwich as a shopping destination? Email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk