Hugh has worked comprehensively at executive level in hospitality and all facets of print, broadcast, telephony and on-line media and brand management – variously as editor, event organiser, general manager and executive director.
He has been involved personally and professionally in learning, development and the outdoors for over 30 years. He is an accomplished rock climber and mountaineer with ascents throughout the world from 6000m peaks in the Indian Himalaya, European Alps, limestone walls of Southern Thailand and the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.
His post-university and globe wandering career began in London as a waiter with rapid catering chain Pasta Mania! Here he met hospitality entrepreneur Nick Jones (CEO and founder) with whom he worked closely in the first four years of the Soho House Group.
Moving to Hong Kong via South Africa he co-founded Asia’s leading outdoor magazine, Action Asia until he broke his back in a paragliding accident while on a story. He made a miraculous recovery and within a year was back climbing in the remote Indian Himalaya and white water rafting in Nepal.
Returning to Hong Kong he was engaged by ESPN and as part of the merger with NewsCorp’s STAR Sports he relocated to Singapore where for the next six years he worked for ESPN STAR Sports in marketing, event management and business development. He was pivotal in introducing the X Games to Asia and as director of the network’s growing multimedia business he establishing several joint ventures in India and China.
On return to the UK in 2003 he lead the digital media practice for Enterprise IG and consulted in international business development in China before establishing Because it’s There Limited in which he turned his experience to helping others change through challenge and learn through coaching.