GRAHAM Sewell has been appointed as Sedgefield Borough Council's first town centre manager.
Mr Sewell will have responsibility for attracting shoppers to Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor town centres, which have big new developments planned.
A manager was appointed earlier this year, but was unable to take up the position because of family commitments.
Mr Sewell is a business development advisor employed by Sasda, the council's development agency.
He has spent the last six months with Sasda, following more than 30 years in food manufacturing with Unilever and latterly as manager of Kerry Foods.
Mr Sewell said: "Over the years, small town centres have suffered because of major centres of commerce like the MetroCentre and so forth, but hopefully we can get a better identity."
Based at the Sedgefield Business Centre, Newton Aycliffe, Mr Sewell will also have facilities in Spennymoor's council offices
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