Edward Hughes

Edward Hughes is an accomplished business leader with over thirty years of experience in senior roles, including two decades as a CEO. His extensive background spans multiple industries such as Chemicals, Advanced Materials, and Consumer Products. Having served in prominent corporations as well as in companies backed by private equity and venture capital, Edward has played a pivotal role in more than a dozen mergers and acquisitions, collectively valued at over $2 billion.

Edward is now a coach, guiding CEOs to cultivate successful ventures by leveraging his hands-on leadership philosophy that boosts performance, team cohesion, revenue growth, and shareholder value. In addition, Edward teaches General Management and Entrepreneurship as an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Irvine, in both the MBA and Executive MBA programs. His teaching is informed by his Harvard MBA and over thirty-five years of direct industry experience.

Business Highlights:

• As the former Chairman & CEO of Aculon, Inc., a specialty chemical company, Edward transformed the organization from a pre-revenue stage to a globally respected leader with top-tier customers across various sectors including Electronics, Oil & Gas, Medical, and Specialty industries.
• Edward founded PowerMetal Technologies, a venture-backed advanced materials company, where he spearheaded major customer contracts and secured a strategic partnership with DuPont.
• At TaylorMade adidas Golf, as SVP/GM, Edward revitalized their $320M North American operations and spearheaded global marketing initiatives that drove rapid growth and doubling in profitability.
• As GM/VP at Maxfli Golf, a PE Backed organization, Edward led the company to profitability and a nine figure acquisition by TaylorMade adidas Golf.
• He also served as the Director of Strategy at Pillsbury, where he was involved in major billion-dollar M&A and integration initiatives.

Personal Highlights:

• Edward is happily married to Dawn and resides in San Diego, CA, with their two entrepreneurial children, Harriet and James.
• An active community member, he has presided over the Harvard Business School Club of San Diego for more than 15 years.
• His board memberships include the San Diego Air & Space Museum and past involvement with the Young Presidents Organization – San Diego Coastal chapter.
• Edward holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar, ranked in the top 5% of his class, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cambridge University in England.

Featured Podcast:

Listen to Edward Hughes’ podcast episode – “Edward Hughes on the Leadership Traits That Build Trust and Make BIG Happen“