Toronto-based Cairns O’Neil Strategic Media has added to its senior leadership team, appointing veteran Canadian media executive Tim Hughes as its managing director. The appointment is effective immediately.
Hughes will be the independent media company’s senior client lead, responsible for strategy, implementation and quality control.
Hughes has more than 20 years of experience in media planning and buying, working at both multinational and boutique agencies across multiple categories including consumer packaged goods, retail, luxury, tourism and not-for-profit.
He was most recently with GroupM’s MediaCom unit, leading the Procter & Gamble, Mars/Wrigley and President’s Choice Financial accounts. Prior to that he was managing director of Mindshare Canada.
His career also includes stints with Ogilvy & Mather and Maxus.
Cairns O’Neil co-founder Sherry O’Neil told Marketing that Hughes’ hire aligns with the agency’s stated objective of having experienced media professionals actively working on clients’ business.
“The most important challenge in our growth is continuing our commitment to senior account management,” said O’Neil. “The addition of Tim provides us with a wide range of experience and…a passion to help our clients’ business.”
Her partner David Cairns said the agency has been planning to add senior talent for more than a year, and had “a number of conversations” with leading media executives. “Tim impressed us with the right combination of experience and knowledge base, along with the right culture fit for our company,” he said. “Tim is a total hands-on team player, a great strategic thinker and a top negotiator.”
