John Hughes

Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director Jigsaw24

Last Reviewed: September 28, 2026

Executive Summary

John Hughes is one of the two founders Jigsaw24 names for itself, the Nottingham IT solutions provider that has sold Apple and creative technology to businesses, creative organisations and schools since 1992. He spent more than three decades inside the business, including as Finance & Operations Director, and co-led the 2018 secondary management buyout that moved it from NorthEdge Capital to Alcuin Capital Partners. In May 2024 he and co-founder Roger Whittle stepped back to non-executive director roles as David Dudman, previously Chief Operating Officer, was appointed Managing Director. By then the company said it was on track for £200 million in annual turnover and had passed £2 billion in cumulative sales, from a start in a terraced house in Nottingham.

Career Highlights

• Named by Jigsaw24 as a co-founder, with Roger Whittle, of a business that started in 1992 and grew to more than 300 staff.
• Director of Jigsaw Systems Limited, the trading company, since April 1994, according to Companies House.
• As Finance & Operations Director, co-led the March 2018 secondary management buyout backed by Alcuin Capital Partners and PNC Financial Services.
• Moved to a non-executive director role in May 2024 when David Dudman was appointed Managing Director.

Professional Journey

Jigsaw24 says it started in 1992 in a terraced house in Nottingham. The trading company, Jigsaw Systems Limited, was incorporated that January, and Companies House records Hughes as one of its directors from April 1994. The business grew into one of the UK’s larger Apple resellers and systems integrators. It is an Apple Premium Business Partner, an Apple Premium Education Partner, an Apple Authorised Service Provider and an Avid Elite Solutions Partner, and it serves corporate, creative, education and public sector customers.

In April 2013 NorthEdge Capital invested alongside the existing management team. Hughes was then Finance & Operations Director. When NorthEdge sold in March 2018, it was to a secondary management buyout led by Whittle and Hughes with the support of Alcuin Capital Partners and PNC Financial Services. NorthEdge reported a 3.1x return and said EBITDA had more than doubled to over £4 million while it held the business. Hughes became a director of the new holding companies, Insanely Great Holdings and Insanely Great Company, on 1 March 2018.

On 1 May 2024 Jigsaw24 announced David Dudman, previously its Chief Operating Officer, as Managing Director, and said the two founders were moving to non-executive director roles. It described them as having led the organisation since it started and steered it to continual year-on-year growth, and said they remained integral to its future. The company said at the time that it expected £200 million of turnover in a year for the first time and had passed £2 billion in cumulative sales.

Away from Jigsaw24, Hughes was a director of the company operating Nottingham Rugby Football Club from 1998 to 2006.

Education

No education record was found in a primary source.