# Jim Hughes

> Jim Hughes is the CEO and a founding member of TrailRunner International, the global strategy and communications advisory firm he helped launch in 2016. Based near Truckee in Olympic Valley, California, he brings a reporter's background to corporate counsel: he covered politics, courts and breaking news for The Denver Post, reported as an embedded journalist during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, worked in communications at CVS Health and Comcast, led media relations for Citizens Financial Group, and became TrailRunner's CEO in 2022.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at TrailRunner International
- **Organizations:** TrailRunner International, Citizens Financial Group, CVS Health, Comcast, The Denver Post
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in English, Union College, MA in Journalism, University of Colorado Boulder, Additional graduate coursework in literature, Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English
- **Known for:** Member of The Denver Post staff awarded the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting., Covered the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq as an embedded reporter., Helped launch TrailRunner International in 2016 and became its CEO in 2022.

## Career timeline

- **1997-2006** — Worked as a political, legal affairs and breaking-news reporter for The Denver Post.
- **2000** — Was a member of The Denver Post reporting staff that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for coverage of the Columbine High School massacre.
- **2003** — Covered the U.S. invasion of Iraq as an embedded reporter.
- **Before 2011** — Held corporate communications roles at CVS Health and Comcast.
- **2011-2016** — Served as senior vice president and head of media relations at Citizens Financial Group.
- **2016** — Helped launch TrailRunner International as its first managing director.
- **2020** — Became chair of TrailRunner International's executive committee.
- **2022** — Was promoted to chief executive officer, responsible for global operations while continuing to advise clients.
- **2025** — Led TrailRunner into its acquisition by Public Policy Holding Company for initial consideration of $33 million; the transaction became effective April 1.
- **2026** — Continued as CEO as TrailRunner expanded its European litigation and corporate communications platform through PPHC's acquisition of Tancredi.

## Achievements

- Member of The Denver Post staff awarded the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting.
- Covered the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq as an embedded reporter.
- Helped launch TrailRunner International in 2016 and became its CEO in 2022.
- Led TrailRunner through a period in which the firm reported 17 percent revenue growth in 2024.
- Led TrailRunner into its 2025 acquisition by Public Policy Holding Company for initial consideration of $33 million.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — PPHC acquired Tancredi to operate within the TrailRunner International group, expanding the platform in London and Europe; Hughes said the combination would deepen litigation, financial, crisis and reputation work.
- **2026-04** — TrailRunner received recognition from Chambers and Partners for litigation support, and Hughes publicly credited colleagues, clients and legal-sector partners.
- **2026-02** — Hughes participated with leaders from PPHC sister agencies in a California discussion on technology policy priorities, risks and opportunities.
- **2025-04** — PPHC's acquisition of TrailRunner became effective, adding the global communications firm to the public-affairs group.
- **2025-01** — TrailRunner announced an expanded senior leadership team after reporting 17 percent revenue growth for 2024.

## Links

- Website: https://trailrunnerint.com/team/jim-hughes/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jihughes

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-hughes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22