Following the acquisition earlier this year by Adelaide-based private investment firm DiMauro Group and moving management to Savills New Zealand, The Palms Shopping Centre is welcoming a refreshed management team with the return of Keryn Ward as Centre Manager and the new appointment of Claudine Pausma as Marketing Manager.

Keryn Ward, who managed The Palms from 2007 to 2012, returned to New Zealand from Sydney in 2020, at the height of the pandemic lockdowns and is excited by the challenge of being back at The Palms.

Speaking on her return, Ward said, “As Christchurch has rebuilt and continues to expand through major residential development in our catchment area, The Palms is likewise refreshing its offering and management team.

“I am delighted to be back as Centre Manager under a new owner and manager who have a shared vision for how the centre can evolve to serve our diverse and growing community, which is evident in the calibre of new tenants to the centre, including Chemist Warehouse, The Oasis and Connor.

Claudine Pausma, Marketing Manager, The Palms

“I’m particularly pleased to welcome Claudine Pausma, a Shirley local and a key appointment for the centre, who brings extensive strategic brand, shopper marketing and promotions, and digital marketing experience, including social media proficiency, to the role of Marketing Manager.”

Pausma’s background in specialised marketing agencies in Auckland and Christchurch has given her an in-depth knowledge of brand transformation, an example of which are recent Matariki celebrations and a new TikTok channel attracting a huge positive response from the community.

In-centre activation, July School Holidays

“To celebrate the first Matariki public holiday, we partnered with Rawhiti School to help tell the narrative and connect families through interactive art. And In May we launched our TikTok channel, a platform that no other New Zealand shopping centre had really started using,” Pausma said.

“We had great success with a post featuring two well-known personalities at The Palms, who used Gen Z language to captivate the audience. The post went viral, achieving 293,900 views, 33,400 likes, and 781 comments.”

Kayla O’Brien, Asset Manager, Savills New Zealand

Kayla O’Brien, Asset Manager, Christchurch, for Savills New Zealand, has recently relocated back to her hometown from London and said, “As an asset manager, I am delighted to be part of The Palms story. This is a destination which is close to my heart, a place where I shopped as a child with my family and enjoyed social gatherings with friends and colleagues – for me The Palms is the heart of the community.

“We are in the early days; however, with the strength and experience of The Palms’ team, we are excited to reshape the centre into a truly unique experience for our community and customers.”