NEW YORK – Marina Maher Communications (MMC) announced today that industry veteran Keith Hughes has joined the agency as Managing Director. Hughes will play a pivotal role in agency business development and thought leadership, as well as provide senior level counsel to key agency accounts that include: Head & Shoulders and Aussie.

“Keith brings a widely regarded reputation for innovative thinking and dynamic programming in marketing communications, as well as a wealth of expertise in influencer and viral marketing, holistic strategy and business growth, said Marina Maher. “His addition expands the capabilities of our already formidable senior team and will enable us to build on our expertise in creating emotional connections with women.”

Hughes brings 20+ years of corporate and agency public relations experience representing Fortune 500 companies and the world’s most admired brands including: PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Philips Electronics, Newell-Rubbermaid, Kraft, Sony, Reebok, Nike, Chase and Fidelity Investments. He most recently worked at Fleishman-Hillard as Global Managing Director of Marketing Communications and Global Account Director for Procter & Gamble.

Prior to Fleishman, Hughes served as Director of the North American Consumer Practice at Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L), playing an integral role in business growth and providing strategic counsel on key agency clients including roles as Global Director of Innovation and Development for the agency’s relationship with Procter & Gamble North America and Account Director for Philips Electronics. Hughes also has worked at Pepsi-Cola Company, Ketchum Public Relations and Creamer Dickson Basford.

Marina Maher Communications is an independent, marketing public relations agency known for building brand relationships. Recognized for its expertise in marketing to women and recipient during 2008 of the Creative Agency of the Year by the Holmes Report, the New York-based firm creates award-winning communications programs for clients in the packaged goods, healthcare, HBA and food/nutrition categories. MMC is a member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest consortium of independent public relations firms.