Jigsaw has appointed former Ted Baker global retail director Chris Browne as retail director, as the fashion brand ramps up plans to grow its physical footprint across the UK.

Browne joins the business to lead the next phase of its bricks-and-mortar expansion, with Jigsaw having instructed property agency Colliers to identify 10 new store locations in Central London and across the UK.

The move would expand Jigsaw’s current estate of 43 standalone stores by almost a quarter, as the retailer looks to build on recent trading momentum.

Jigsaw said the appointment follows a strong Christmas period, during which sales rose 26 per cent year on year and profit margins improved by 35 per cent.

Browne brings extensive retail experience to the role, having spent 30 years at Ted Baker as global retail director. During that time, he oversaw the brand’s growth from eight stores to more than 500 locations worldwide, helping drive its expansion across North America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Europe.

He also led a direct team of 128 people across five territory offices and a wider retail workforce of more than 3,000.

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.”

Jigsaw managing director Tikki Godley 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.”

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