One of Europe's biggest shopping centres has a new boss.

Robert Goodman has taken over as general manager at Bluewater, the retail, leisure and events complex in Greenhithe.

He replaces Andrew Parkinson, who joined Liverpool Football Club as operations director in September.

Mr Goodman arrives shortly after the opening of the £60m Glow events centre and a Christmas period that saw footfall at Bluewater 8% up on the same period a year ago when heavy snow blanketed the county.

More than 750,000 people visited Bluewater between December 20 and 24, and a 2011 record 180,000 visited on December 27.

But the complex also faces new competition from the Westfield centre, close to Olympic Park in Stratford.

Mr Goodman has moved from Land Securities where he worked on the One New Change office and retail project in the City of London. He previously worked for BAA, Marks & Spencer and ran The Centre in Milton Keynes.

Mark Boor, head of retail asset management at Lend Lease, which manages and develops the site, said: "As the number one retail destination in the UK, Bluewater requires strong, experienced and innovative leadership. Robert exceeded our criteria and is the perfect person to lead Bluewater through the next stage of its evolution."

Mr Goodman added: "I am very excited to have joined Bluewater at the most important point in its history since opening."