The Jigsaw Tree Team
It's all about the team
We are enthusiastic and passionate about the impact effective technology can have on a modern advice firm and are happy working with firms to develop the right strategy for their business. However, unlike other support firms, we believe our partnership with clients should go beyond the strategy. We will work with you to plan and execute change, thus ensuring you realise the benefits you are expecting.
Chris Baigent-Reed
Managing Director
Over the last 25 years, Chris Baigent-Reed has earned a stellar reputation as a dedicated and passionate Financial Services specialist.
As the founder and business owner of Jigsaw Tree, Chris always looks to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients and ensures they are always the key priority. Her honest approach is seen throughout the firm's delivery of its services to the advice firms it works with.
When she isn’t working, Chris spends her time cycling, walking with her dogs and running. She is committed to raising money for charity by cycling and other challenging events. She recently completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours and she works closely with the firm's chosen charities to give back to the local community.
Chris’ specialism includes Business, Technology and Digital Transformation, Project Management, Operations and Sale Management.
Zoe Stretton
Senior Outsourcing Specialist
As one of our Outsourcing Specialists, Zoe works hard to deliver a reliable service to our outsource clients.
Previously specialising in income and commissions at Iress, Zoe has a wealth of experience in revenue management.
She is passionate about helping firms get the most value for their money and approaches every project with a keen eye for detail and impressive processing skills.
Gemma Allton
Senior Outsourcing Specialist
Gemma has spent the past 15 years working in Financial Services. She is a self-motivated and integral part of the Jigsaw Tree team who prides herself on the ability to adapt to new tasks and problem-solve quickly.
As a Virtual Administrator, she helps our clients spend less of their time on administration tasks and prioritise their own client’s needs and concerns.
Gemma is devoted to her family and describes her daughter Hollie as the reason she does everything. She adores her home life and is proud to say she’s worked hard for it.
Jean Gillies
Outsourcing Specialist
Jean Gillies’ 30 years in the Life & Pensions sector has taught her to value composure and directness when working to ensure each client’s needs are met.
Having previously worked as an Administrator, Administration Manager and Finance Manager with a number of companies (including Barclays Bank and Arthur J Gallagher), Jean’s natural curiosity means she derives great pleasure from investigating client issues and working towards a suitable resolution.
In her personal life, Jean is a committed Mother and Grandmother. She finds real happiness in watching her family continue to accomplish amazing things and remains endlessly proud of them. She rescued two cats - Lizzie and Polly - from the RSPCA nearly ten years ago. They still find excuses to fight each other but Jean reminds us that, on a good day, they are polite, well-behaved, and very loved.
Kirsten James
Outsourcing Specialist
Kirsten’s 20 years experience as an Administrator has taught her the importance of close client relations.
She prides herself on providing excellent customer service whilst getting the job done in a timely and efficient manner. Kirsten helps clients find easier ways to supply correct data through her unfaltering commitment to teamwork and problem-solving.
Kirsten describes her greatest accomplishment as “becoming a mum” and quietly harbors dreams of one day working on a large game reserve.
Sally Bousfield
Outsourcing Specialist
Sally brings a vast range of Financial Services experience to her work with Jigsaw Tree.
As a Client Services Manager, she previously worked on a one-to-one basis with Advisers and clients. As a competent member of the outsourcing team, Sally understands the entire Income Reconciliation process; from input to completion.
Keenly professional and knowledgeable, Sally is always committed to giving each of our clients an excellent service.
Rebecca Evans
Outsourcing Specialist
At Jigsaw Tree, Rebecca is currently working with a number of IFAs across the country, providing experienced administration support.
Rebecca began her career working for Sesame Bankhall Group. Their focus on the many different areas of adviser support provided her with an extensive and valuable grasp on the demands of the Financial Services industry.
She is proficient with Intelligent Office and a thoroughly organised member of the team.
Kath McKenzie
Outsourcing Specialist
Kath is currently overseeing an entire Operational function, including Paraplanning and Administration, with a view to managing process through workflows and pipelines business reporting.
Her background in Financial Services is far-reaching. Beginning her career processing New Business applications with Liverpool Victoria before moving onto work for Swiss Re at their UK Headquarters.
Her list of administration roles include: income reconciliation, valuations, Letters of Authority processing and client/provider liaison.
Hugo Trebels
Finance Assistant/Outsourcing Specialist
Hugo is a vastly experienced and commercially-minded Finance Assistant.
His responsibilities include ensuring all of our clients are invoiced correctly and being on hand to answer any questions the clients may have.
Since starting his work with Jigsaw Tree in 2014 he has provided valuable administration support and works with a number of clients providing outsourced income reconciliation.
Lorraine Bunn
Outsourcing Specialist
Lorraine is highly experienced at supporting Financial Advisers having worked as an administrator in the sector for many years.
Early in her career she worked for a small company focused on delivering Investment and Pension advice where she gained knowledge of the industry, its processes and the importance of client service. Lorraine then progressed to larger companies, which offered a wider range of advice, including Life Assurance and Mortgage advice.
Lorraine has also worked in the Care sector, providing administration skills to a care home for adults with Autism.
Lorraine is a coffee lover who spends any leftover energy by jogging or using her spin bike.
Brendan McCarthy
Outsourcing Specialist
Brendan brings a wealth of experience to the Jigsaw Tree team with a career spanning over twenty years in financial services. He has worked in roles within investment banking and the
mortgage industry and has developed a broad range of operational support skills and experience.
Starting as a Traders Assistant at DZ Bank and progressing to the Manager of a Derivatives Operations Team at J P Morgan, Brendan has a track record in reconciliations. His strengths lie in the ability to investigate discrepancies, identify root causes and make appropriate recommendations for improvement. Following a career move to the mortgage industry, he gained valuable experience in income reconciliation, suitability report development and RMAR reporting.
Away from the office, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music and podcasts, and cheering on his local football team.
Craig Minards
Outsourcing Specialist
Having worked in technology services for over 25 years including Payroll, HR and Financial Services, Craig comes with a wealth of practical hands-on and consultancy experience. As Head of Internal Projects at Grant Thornton UK LLP he diversified his career and his team managed projects from business restructuring, technology implementations to office moves and refurbishment.
A qualified MSP Practioner, PRINCE 2 Practioner and Change Management Practioner, his drive is effectiveness and efficiency. He brings to the table the desire to deliver the very best for our customers with strong analytical skills and great attention to detail.
In his younger years, he worked as Cabin Crew and the passion to travel remains strong, now with his family in tow.
Jon Dunbar
Trainer and Project Manager
Jon has previously worked for over 10 years in a financial services network working his way through various roles starting in the Commissions department and working his way up to being an account manager for their client management system. He has experience working as an administrator in a small, busy IFA firm.
He has experience in system configuration, implementation, document designer, compliance, commissions and conducting training for single users up to large group sessions and presentations.
Naya Hemens-Westaway
Trainer and Project Manager
Naya has previously worked within a large financial advisory firm which has given her first-hand experience of the importance of utilising a CRM correctly and how it can best serve the whole business. She comes from a strong family background in financial services with over 15 years
of experience and fully understands the issues a firm can face without good technology and firm-set processes in place. Naya strongly believes in the positive impact these can have across any business of any size.
Naya prides herself on being able to form a great relationship with her clients, as she has in previous roles, where an open line of communication and support is a must. She is very enthusiastic about
her career and believes she has found her home at Jigsaw Tree, where her ambition and determination will be celebrated. Her life before Jigsaw Tree demonstrates resilience and adaptability which means she will be able to guide clients through any issues they may have and do so with the same positive attitude.
Gill Milward
Business Consultant
Gill has been in Financial Services since 2001 and has experience working for multiple networks and DA support providers in that time.
In her more recent roles she has taken that experience into Financial Services Technology where she has used her knowledge along with her ability to review and analyse situations and resolve problems for firms so that they gain better outcomes.
Combining all of her diverse skills means that Gill finds solutions with a practical and outcome based approach.
Justine Clarke
Business Consultant
Justine arrived from New Zealand in 2000 and loved it here so much, she couldn’t leave! She has worked in Financial Services since arriving in the UK, both in advisory firms and for back-office software providers.
Justine has both the practical experience of using technology to improve processes and consultancy and training skills to help embed business efficiencies. She offers practical advice and solutions based on experience and works with firms to determine how best to plan and effect change and streamline business processes.
Sarah Rhodes
Practice Manager
Sarah comes with a wealth of experience in administration and business management. She is an excellent communicator and prides herself on developing client relationships.
Sarah has worked in a variety of industries including running her own business in Interior Design. She worked in the events industry for 8 years, from London 2012 to the Commonwealth Games 2019 on the Gold Coast and brings a wealth of project management experience at a senior level. Her time in this industry demonstrated her capability of being very versatile and resilient under pressure.
She has a varied background having been brought up on a dairy farm in the depths of Dartmoor and is a qualified riding instructor. Her passion now is very much her dogs, Buxton, Storme and Effie all of whom she has bred herself as well as a love of cooking. Sarah is a mother and grandmother and can often be found supporting her youngest son on the side of a rugby field as well as her grandson who has just started his rugby career.
Helen Price-Evans
HR Manager
Helen Price-Evans is a CIPD qualified professional with over 20 years of human resources management, business training and coaching experience.
Helen, who has a long career history in customer services, has a warm and personable relationship-orientated approach. Her excellent sense of humour and positive energy helps to yield excellent results from the Jigsaw Tree team.
She uses her insight and NLP coaching skills to help us realise our potential and harnesses it for ultimate success.
John Escreet
Infrastructure Manager
John is responsible for all of Jigsaw Tree’s technology and infrastructure needs.
With over 20 years experience, he began his career in Financial Services at Towry Law in 2006. Since joining our team, John has provided valuable advice centred around our technology solutions and implementations.
The right technology ensures that we provide the best virtual face-to-face support to all of our clients. Facilitating this makes John a hugely important member of our team.
Bruce
The Office Dog
Bruce is the star of many of our campaigns. Despite the attention, he has managed to keep his paws on the ground.
His other duties include keeping Chris company in her garden office and providing feedback on marketing material.
Karen Livingstone
Marketing Manager
Karen has had a career in marketing that has spanned over 30 years split between corporate marketing in the IT Industry and being a freelance marketing consultant. She has an excellent understanding of business operations, project management, and communication channels.
Results-driven, Karen prides herself in putting strategic plans in place to achieve the goals we have set for our business growth. She is then responsible for overseeing the implementation of individual marketing activities and reporting.
Outside of work, Karen enjoys travel, pottering around in her garden, cookery, and drinking coffee!
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Steven Banks
Trainer & Project Manager
Steven has a wealth of experience in Project and Business management with 25+ years in diverse industries like Blue Chip Insurance, Facilities Management, and Information Technology.
He excels in client-focused management, building strong relationships with clients who share the goal of excellent service. Steven is tenacious, and enthusiastic and uses motivational leadership to engage and inspire. He prioritises timely and budget-conscious project delivery, recognising the importance of communication for success.
Steven holds a PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification.
After two decades in London, he relocated to Scotland with his rescue dog, Roxie, seeking a breath of fresh air and a return to his native homeland.
Sarah Kopsch
Outsourcing Specialist
Sarah is a highly experienced in customer relations, adept at understanding and meeting customer needs. She has a strong background in handling quotations and assisting with tender submissions, ensuring accurate product specifications. Sarah has also been responsible for recruitment and training in her previous roles.
In her recent position in Financial Services, she directly interacted with clients, accurately compiling information for advisors and entering it into the IO system. She gained expertise in Income Reconciliation, ensuring smooth income transfers.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys caring for her nephew, participating in sports, and attending concerts and festivals.Top of Form
Karen Livingstone
Marketing Manager
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Lark Ismail
Social Media
Lark has been working in design, content creation, and marketing for 10 years, focusing on web design and content leverage. She is responsible for managing the social media accounts for Jigsaw Tree since 2018, sharing company updates and achievements with their followers.
Lark enjoys brewing cider in her spare time and spending time in her garden with her husband, dogs, and chickens.