MATCH TEAM
Lara Besbrode
CEO / Senior International Matchmaker
Award-Winning and MMI-Certified International Matchmaker Lara Besbrode is the founder of The Matchmaker UK. Following a successful 30 year career in PR and marketing, she reimagined her passion for people and networking, creating her own exclusive matchmaking service in the process.
Lara takes an interdisciplinary approach to matchmaking, masterfully blending her skills and collaborating with UK and international matchmakers to find the most suited match.
No stranger to the realm of love, dating and relationships, Lara is intimately familiar with the intricacies of her calling. Lara approaches each matchmaking engagement with a vibrant aura of passionate energy and empathy.
Lara is a regular guest as Dating Expert on TalkRadio, BBC News & Radio, Real Housewives of Cheshire and MTV Catfish UK. She often makes global media appearances on television networks in the UK and US.
Phoebe Kroll
Head of Operations / Matchmaker
As Head of Operations, Phoebe oversees end-to-end business administration at The Matchmaker UK, ensuring clients benefit from a seamlessly integrated client experience.
At the helm since business inception, Phoebe is intimately familiar with the intricacies of our service, greatly enhancing the flow of daily operations.
Phoebe is highly creative, known for creating eye-catching campaigns. She excels at thinking outside the box and finding innovative solutions.
Karen Mfuk
Senior Matchmaker
Having worked within the matchmaking industry for several years, she has proven herself as a senior matchmaker with multiple successes to date. She takes great pleasure in supporting individuals on the journey to finding a meaningful relationship. Her warm and calm demeanour and curiosity about people make her a natural when it comes to connecting others.
Nicole Ford
Assistant Matchmaker
Alongside her matchmaking role, Nicole is pursuing studies in Psychology with Counselling, as she aspires to specialise in couples and relationship therapy. With this along with her ten years of experience in customer relations, Nicole knows how to listen and understand people’s needs.
Every day, Nicole aims to integrate her academic knowledge with practical experience, seeking to comprehend the elements that contribute to successful relationships. She is dedicated to refining her skills and expertise, with the ultimate aim of positively impacting the lives of individuals and couples alike.
Michelle Procopi
Assistant Matchmaker
Michelle has over two decades of experience in project management and customer facing roles. She is an attentive empathic listener enabling her to understand her clients needs and build strong working relationships.
Michelle is passionate about helping people and committed to providing amazing customer service.
OFFICE TEAM
Abbey Blackwood
Marketing Manager
When she’s not creating content, you can find her travelling, going for runs along the Lytham coastline and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
TRANSFORMATION TEAM
Livia Johnson
Relationship Coach
Livia is a highly successful relationship coach and Master NLP/EFT therapist who works with clients who have experienced toxic relationships, bereavement and/or divorce to empower them to move forward in their lives. Livia helps them to anchor into their strength to find their freedom, so that they can learn not only to love themselves, but to also form and keep healthy relationships in their future.
Livia uses the tools of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Time Line Therapy, as well as Hypnosis to help free her clients of past issues. She has ‘walked the walk’ and can ‘talk the talk’ when it comes to her own personal experience; of both trauma caused from previous relationships as well as divorce and separation healing.
Total transformation is what Livia is all about and she loves to help others achieve this, thereby finding true love themselves.
Angie Wilkinson
Personal Trainer
Sport and fitness have been a part of my life from as early as I can remember. Born and raised in Manchester, the eldest of four children, I ran my first half marathon aged 13 around a hilly course in the countryside. I danced, was a county swimmer, a cross country runner and excelled at all sports at school.
After school I played tennis and basketball for Glossop Ladies, age 14 and threw Javelin for Stretford Athletics. I trained as a Personal Fitness Instructor in 2006. Gained my sport & science BSC in 2013. And have been training clients since 2007.
Paul Fawley
In-House Photographer
Throughout his expansive career as a commercial photographer, Paul followed his camera around the world, exploring Europe, India, China, Dublin and the UK.
A talented photographer and expert shoot director with an eye for detail, his demeanor instantly puts clients at ease. Paul works with clients to finalise photoshoot locations and outfit choices, working alongside our stylist to create astounding bespoke images.
John Kenny
Dating Coach
John is a Relationship Empowerment Coach, Author, Documentarian and Podcast Host. Having lived a life full of self-destructive behaviours and attracting difficult relationships, he now coaches people to attract and create the healthiest relationships possible.
He has worked with thousands of clients over the past 15 years and has helped them to live the life they choose, rather than the one they felt they should or were destined to. He is part of our Dating coach team.
Natasha Diskin
Personal Stylist & Wellbeing Coach
Natasha blends expertise in personal styling and psychology, as an Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, to empower clients with a confidence-boosting radiant glow.
Affectionately known as ‘The Queen of Style’, Natasha collaborates with clients to curate elevating outfits, from dating to everyday style. Her distinctive approach merges style and psychology, enabling women to feel irresistibly confident. To overcome style-related limiting beliefs, Natasha believes in dressing authentically.