About

‘An industry expert’ ‘combining excellent legal and regulatory knowledge with a clear understanding of the business’, Mark Hughes ‘commands respect and admiration’. With ‘exceptional’ understanding of Ireland’s telecommunications industry, Hughes helped secured merger approval for 3’s 2014 acquisition of O2. As well as the transformative effect it had upon the brand’s national business, almost quadrupling its market share, the deal has ‘ensured 4G rollout to 97% of the Irish population’, Hughes explains. Leading a highly specialised stream within 3 Ireland’s legal function, he has made considerable changes to structures and processes, mapping out clear remits of responsibility to individuals and reducing reliance on outside counsel. He has also introduced cross-functional meetings, to promote smoother integration with the business (‘this is an ongoing process’, he says). Hughes previously worked at the Commission for Communications Regulation.