MHP Communications today announces the appointment of Oliver Hughes as head of capital markets and the promotion of Andrew Jaques to executive chairman of capital markets, after nine years of leading the firm’s financial communications business.

Hughes joins from Brunswick Group where for 12 years he advised businesses of all sizes across multiple industries on their communications with the capital markets and other stakeholders. His clients included some of the world’s most high-profile organisations including AT&T, InterContinental Hotels, Sainsbury’s, Santander and William Hill.

In his new role, Hughes will set the strategy and drive the growth of MHP’s capital markets practice, allowing Jaques to focus on new business, marketing and client retention.

MHP’s capital markets team advises leading companies in the UK, including JD Sports, Slaughter & May and FTSE 100 Halma Group. A major adviser on some of the biggest M&A deals, the team has provided counsel on over 100 private equity and public market transactions in the past three years, most recently advising Laird on its £1bn acquisition by Advent International, as announced last week.

Hughes’ appointment marks the final stage of CEO Alex Bigg’s shake-up of MHP’s senior team. His new team includes Nick Barron, deputy CEO; Mike Robb, head of financial services; Andy Bloxham, head of corporate; James Gurling and Jamie Lyons, joint heads of public affairs; Gemma Irvine, head of brand; Kate Pogson, head of health; and Emma Smith, CEO Asia.

Hughes says, “The need to communicate with clarity and impact has never been greater. Businesses face an increasingly complex and fast changing landscape. New technologies, enhanced regulation and geopolitical risks all have to be managed. At the same time organisations are being challenged to articulate their social as well as financial value. And in today’s hyper-connected world, every communications issue has a digital component. I am delighted to be joining the strong team at MHP and am looking forward to working with Andrew and the team he has built. It is a firm ideally placed to help capital markets businesses with the multidimensional issues faced by companies today.”

Jaques adds, “I am proud of what the capital markets team has achieved since I took the helm at one of MHP’s predecessor agencies, Hogarth, almost a decade ago. Since then we have witnessed significant change in the city and the media that has continued to reshape the capital markets communications landscape. Oliver is a huge talent who will bring valuable insight and experience as we continue to surmount these challenges of change for our clients and I am very excited about the future of our team under his leadership.