THE i360 has appointed a new boss.

Ian Hart, from Rustington, comes in as general manager and will take over the work of chief executive Steve Bax, who is on gardening leave until March, having left in October.

Mr Hart has more than 25 years’ experience at Marks and Spencer, The Arcadia Group, The Body Shop and the Nuance Group, where he operated a large portfolio of airport shops plus outlets at Center Parcs and on Irish Ferries.

He also has international retail experience, having led operations across ten countries in the Middle East.

More recently, Ian has been consulting and directing as centre director at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and centre manager at The Friary shopping centre in Guildford.

He has lectured at Brighton University since 2011.

Ian said: “I am delighted to have joined the team at British Airways i360. I think I’ve found the ideal role in which to utilise my skills, knowledge and experience to continue developing this great Brighton attraction and delivering a great customer experience to our visitors.

As well as working with the team, I’m looking forward to building close relationships with other Brighton attractions and businesses and with the council, and to being fully involved with the wider local community.”

Julia Barfield, chairwoman of Brighton i360 Ltd, said: “Ian Hart has extensive senior experience in operations and commercial development across a broad range of organisations, and is ideally placed to take our business, team and customer experience to new heights.

"We are very pleased to welcome him on board.”

Ian started at British Airways i360 on Monday 14 January. He replaces Steve Bax, who left the company in October 2018.

In a further move to strengthen the senior management team at Brighton i360 Ltd, David Sharpe, interim CEO and former managing director of the London Eye, has now been appointed to the board of directors.