Jigsaw has appointed Chris Browne as retail director to spearhead the next phase of the brand’s bricks-and-mortar expansion. Browne, who spent 30 years as global retail director at Ted Baker, brings extensive experience in store development, property strategy and building high-performing retail teams across international markets.
The appointment comes as Jigsaw accelerates its UK growth plans, having instructed property agency Colliers to identify 10 new store sites in Central London and across the UK.
The expansion will increase the retailer’s existing portfolio of 43 standalone stores by nearly a quarter, building on a strong trading period that saw Christmas sales rise 26% year-on-year and profit margins improve by 35%.
During his three decades at Ted Baker, Browne oversaw the brand’s growth from eight stores to over 500 retail locations globally, playing a central role in its expansion into North America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Europe. He led a direct team of 128 people across five territory offices and a retail workforce of over 3,000.
Building on this momentum and with confidence in the turnaround plan’s strategy, Jigsaw has committed to opening 10 new stores across the UK, expanding its physical retail footprint and bringing the brand experience closer to its growing customer base.
Commenting on his appointment Browne said: “Jigsaw is a brand I’ve always admired — representing craftsmanship, quality and thoughtful design, which is increasingly rare on the high street. Finding the right homes for a brand like this matters, and I’m very much looking forward to getting started and securing the locations that will do justice to the product and the customer experience.”
Tikki Godley, managing director at Jigsaw, said: “Chris is one of the most experienced retail directors in the UK and has an outstanding track record of building store portfolios and delivering growth. His appointment reflects the scale of our ambition. We have a clear plan to expand our physical footprint and bring Jigsaw to more customers across the country, and Chris is exactly the right person to lead that.”
