Jigsaw has all the right pieces.

Jigsaw Services, listed among the nation's fastest-growing companies, again proves it is possible to build a thriving business from South Australia. In less than four years, Chief Executive Andrew McAdams and Executive Chairman Steve Howe have made Jigsaw not only a fast growing company but also one with a big future.

Jigsaw has grown rapidly since it was formed in 2001, now employing 60 people and about 15 contractors. In 2004/2005 the information technology company achieved a turnover growth of 86 per cent to $6+ million - its expansion propelled by such new clients as Coopers Brewery, the Hardy Wine Company and Orlando Wyndham.

Jigsaw's turnover is projected to reach $12+ million in 2005/2006. Its corporate plan says that will double in the following 12 to 18 months. The business started after Mr. McAdams, who was a management consultant for Deloitte in Dunedin, New Zealand, fell in love and married a South Australian and moved to Adelaide.

He formed a small management consulting company, ADC Results, which grew into an eight-person business and gained a reputation for excellence in the local government sector. "One of the things that became clear to me was the outdated back-office management systems," he said. "After significant research, we decided to secure the rights to the JD Edwards information system to help local governments across Australia and New Zealand enhance information management. We formed Jigsaw Services at that time in 2001. Our first customer was the Onkaparinga City council." The JD Edwards software system manages everything from financial sales, to order processing, forecasting of that information to manufacturing, warehousing, inventory, transports and payrolls.

While Jigsaw is based in Adelaide, it has clients in every state and throughout New Zealand. Behind the success however, the firm has experienced growing pains because of extreme difficulty in getting employees with the right skills and experience. Among its most recent successes is a deal to install a new back office and maintenance system for Samoa's national telecommunications supplier.

For Mr. Howe, Jigsaw continues a successful business career he started with software development company, Stowe Computing Australia, at the age of 26. That grew to 330 employees at its peak before it was acquired.

* Source: The Advertiser "Silent Achiever" 9/4/05