Back to news list
Oakley Capital Corporate Finance ('Oakley') has appointed John Hughes, CBE, as its Special Advisor. Mr Hughes has over thirty years' experience in leading complex Technology and Telecoms businesses at a global level in both the listed and unlisted arenas. He is currently non-executive Chairman of Spectris plc, the global instrumentation and controls business, Europe's leading datacentre operator Telecity Group plc, and Sepura plc, which provides radio and infrastructure communications solutions. In addition, he is Chairman of Just-Eat Group, the online takeaway food ordering business and holds a Directorship with CSG Systems International Inc.
Mr Hughes has significant experience of managing high growth companies across TMT - especially those supplying complex solutions and services to business customers - of mergers and acquisitions, of international/channel expansions and of developing leadership teams. He has lived and worked in the USA, mainland Europe and the UK.
As part of his role at Oakley, Mr Hughes will be assisting with the continuing growth in the corporate finance business as a leading player in sector specialist, mid-market transactions, principally focused in the TMT market. His wealth of experience and international network of contacts will also enable Oakley to enhance further its deal origination pipeline.
Previous roles include Thales Group (where Mr Hughes was latterly Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for an organisation with over 25,000 people), Lucent Technologies (where he was president of its worldwide GSM and UMTS businesses) and Hewlett Packard. Until 2011 he was an operating partner at Advent International, the leading private equity group, and until 2010 was the non-executive Chairman of Intec Telecoms Systems plc, the telecoms billing software company and a non-executive director of Chloride Group plc.
Mr Hughes holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He is also an Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and President of the Historic Motor Sport Commission of the FIA, the international motorsport federation. Mr Hughes was awarded the CBE for services to International Telecommunications in the 2011 New Year Honours List.
Christian Maher, joint Managing Partner at Oakley said "we are delighted that John has joined the team. John has superb experience across the TMT sector, in both the listed and unlisted arenas, and a track record of success which matches our own ambitions for the future growth of our advisory business. Since our inception in 2007 we have completed 37 deals with a deal value of over £2.3bn and become retained advisor to 11 listed companies including TalkTalk and Telecity. We are confident John's arrival can further accelerate our growth across M&A, Fundraisings and Corporate Broking."
Commenting on his appointment, John Hughes CBE said "I am delighted to be joining the OCCF team. I have known Chris Godsmark and Christian for some time, and seen the excellent growth they have achieved since 2007. I look forward to working with them and achieving further success moving forward".
For further information please contact:
Oakley Capital Corporate Finance
Chris Godsmark
Christian Maher
(020) 7766 6900
Notes to editors:
Oakley Capital Corporate Finance (“Oakley”) is a mid-market corporate finance business which provides sector specialist advice to quoted and private companies in the telecoms, media, technology, financial services and renewable energy sectors. We differentiate ourselves by providing clients with both Corporate Finance advice, typically focusing on M&A deals with a value of up to £500m and also Corporate Broking services, where we work intensively with our retained clients to widen their institutional shareholder bases and develop their equity stories.
We are also particularly active in the private equity market, where we work with many of the leading mid-market firms to develop deal ideas and opportunities. Since we formed Oakley within the Oakley Capital group of financial services businesses, we have completed 37 transactions with a value of more than £2.3bn.