James Hughes
James Hughes is the Head of Paid Media at Zero Gravity Marketing, bringing more than 22 years of experience leading integrated media strategy, planning, and performance marketing initiatives across B2B, B2C, DTC, hospitality, gaming, retail, and financial services industries. Throughout his career, he has managed multimillion-dollar media investments, built and led high-performing teams, and helped brands drive measurable growth through innovative, data-driven marketing solutions. James is passionate about blending analytics with creativity to deliver impactful results while mentoring the next generation of marketing professionals.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, fly fishing, and exploring the outdoors with his family.
Specializations:
- Paid Media Strategy & Planning
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM) & PPC Management
- Paid Social Advertising (Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, Pinterest)
- Programmatic Display, Video, and Connected TV (CTV)
- Traditional Media Planning & Buying (Television, Radio, Print, Out-of-Home)
- Media Mix Modeling & Budget Allocation
- Audience Segmentation & First-Party Data Strategy
Certifications & Accolades
Google Analytics Certified
Google AdWords Certified
Why do you enjoy digital marketing?
What I enjoy most about digital marketing is the constant opportunity to learn, improve, and evolve. I love analyzing performance, optimizing campaigns, and uncovering new approaches that deliver better-than-anticipated results. The digital landscape is always changing, which means there is always a new challenge to solve and a new opportunity to capitalize on. That continuous evolution keeps the work exciting and pushes me to adapt, innovate, and grow alongside the industry.
What is your favorite quote?
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m really good at “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” and at rattling off random sports facts.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Fighter Pilot. I tried joining the Marine Corps when I turned 18 but was medically disqualified.
Do you have any pets?
Not currently. They sadly passed away.
ZGM Awards & Recognition
