MEET THE TEAM
Did you know…?
Jess is a huge Arsenal fan and enjoys arts and crafts in her spare time.
Jessica Rigby
Head of Operations
Background
Originally from Portsmouth, Jess graduated from Kingston University after studying Music Technology and started her career in the customer service department of LOVEFiLM (subsequently Amazon Prime). In this role, she progressed to a significant leadership position supporting over 50 staff members.
After this, she joined MNG Maritime, where she steadily adopted ever-increasing responsibility as Operations Director. She oversaw all aspects of MNG Operations, including HR, logistics, transfer operations, bunkering, ISO compliance and licensing, as well as over 100 deployed staff. She was always the first port of call for their increasing client base and managed her capable team of responsive operational staff.
Jess joined UMBRA in 2020 as Head of Operations and is responsible for the processes and day-to-day running of UMBRA International Group Ltd. The role is multi-faceted and requires her to be forward-thinking and solution-focused.
Sarah Minns
Head of UMBRA Select
Background
Sarah began her professional career in the Square Mile, working for Euromoney Institutional Investor on the Flagship publication Euromoney. Sarah began as PA to the Publisher, but was quickly promoted to Advertising Production Manager and then Special Projects Editor. In that role, she ran a team and looked after all guides and supplements produced by the business, overseeing everything from planning to print.
In 2016, Sarah became Private Secretary to a Former Prime Minister. Sarah played a key right hand role looking after the busy life of this former Prime Minister, managing their needs during international speaking engagements, multiple global board commitments and the launch of their book.
Sarah’s first move into recruitment came in 2019, when she was asked to join the team at BOWER Talent. Sarah worked with many mid- to large-scale businesses working with their core administrative function, training PAs/EAs and all other support staff. This work required international travel, and laid the groundwork for a successful training business.
Sarah joined UMBRA International Group at the beginning of 2020. Sarah is delighted to head up the recruitment side of the business. She manages all Private Household Staffing roles and candidates across the board, as well as corporate and family office roles.
Did you know…?
Sarah Minns graduated with a bachelor of Music and a postgraduate diploma in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music, London. She still sings to this day in her spare time.
Did you know…?
Jenn enjoys travelling, reading and a good cup of coffee!
Jenn Phillips
UMBRA Select
Background
Jenn began her career in the escrow and title insurance industry in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. During the five years Jenn spent in title insurance, she managed relationships and worked closely with some of the largest real estate developers in the Western US. She was promoted multiple times and facilitated thousands of transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
In 2017 Jenn re-entered the professional sphere after taking a few years off to raise her three small children. Living in New York City amidst the rise of New York’s burgeoning technology sector, Jenn began recruiting for high-growth technology companies while concurrently completing an undergraduate degree.
Her naturally charismatic personality and ability to connect with different personality types made her quickly successful. Within two years she was part of a small team sent from New York to London to establish a UK office for a growing international tech start-up. After helping to grow the new UK office from two people to a high-performing cross-functional team of twenty, Jenn transitioned to another UK-based technology company to grow the engineering and executive teams.
Jenn loves a challenge and prides herself in her ability to think critically and problem solve. Emotional Intelligence and an ability to connect with individuals from disparate backgrounds are Jenn’s key strengths. She finds fulfilment using these skills to help clients find great employees and candidates find satisfying careers.
Clara Richmond
UMBRA Operations Assistant
Background
Clara is from a military family and has lived all over the UK and abroad. She joined the team at the beginning of 2021 and operates across all three business offerings supporting the whole team here at UMBRA International Group Ltd., including providing PA support to Kate.
Previously Clara worked as a Supervisor at Space NK and other beauty retailers alongside being a freelance hair and makeup artist. She brings a creative mind to the team and runs our social media platforms.
The majority of Clara’s experience has been in customer facing environments where multitasking, effective teamwork and great communications have been essential for business success.
Clara is naturally curious, likes to get things done and be kept busy and gets all of that from her role here at UMBRA International Group Ltd.
Did you know…?
Clara is a fully qualified hair and makeup artist and has worked on major film sets such as ‘Spider-Man, Far From Home’ and is a keen sports woman who has recently completed her first triathlon!
Did you know…?
Neill started work as Saturday boy at a local butcher’s, from the age of 11. He is also fascinated by ancient history, more specifically the Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian and South and Central American cultures. Just check out Gobekli Tepe!
Neill Truett
UMBRA SELECT
Background
After graduating from The London Studio Centre for The Performing Arts, Neill began his career in a brand-new musical in Düsseldorf, Germany, where he lived for a year. He then moved on to perform in numerous successful productions on the West End stage and national tours, including ‘Grease’, ‘Oh what a night’ and ‘Boogie Nights’ to name just a few and a number of TV and Film productions.
Following a succession of injuries, Neill made the difficult decision to leave the arts and pursue a new career and following a move across the country, he entered the world of Private service. Neill re-trained as a Butler and went on to work as Butler/House Manager for a number of years. Having been approached by Jane Urquhart, Neill changed careers to help recruit private staff at Jane Urquhart Limited, where he successfully ran the International and couples’ desks for around 5 years, also being promoted to office manager.
Neill then moved into the world of events, where he utilised all his past skills and experience, working for an event catering company, managing all aspects of events for up to 600 people, in addition, training, mentoring and leading teams of staff on event day. During this time, Neill is very proud to have attained, a level 7, postgraduate in Marketing and Communications, specialising in Events Management.
More recently, Neill is delighted to have been asked to join the UMBRA Select team to once again help find the very best staff, for the most discerning and UHNW clients around the world.
Jane Urquhart
Private Client Recruitment Founder, Special Advisor UMBRA SELECT
Background
After pivoting a successful career in teaching, Jane launched recruitment business Greycoat Lumleys. She managed and grew the business for nearly twenty years, before deciding to start a more boutique and bespoke recruitment company under her own name.
This agency is now part of Umbra SELECT, with Jane acting as UMBRA Ambassador.
Did you know…?
Jane lives in idyllic Devon, and works as an estate agent in her spare time.
