Craig Hughes

Internet, Tech, Ads.

Growth and strategy topics, at the intersection of technology, media, and AI.

Work, Projects, Things

  • I lead Corp Dev, Strategy, BD & Partnerships. Current efforts include building on frontier AI tech & LLMs, and rapidly expanding our retail and commerce business, amongst other hard/fun topics.

    Outbrain and Teads merged in Feb 2025 to form the new Teads (NASDAQ: $TEAD), the leading full funnel open internet ad platform, delivering outcomes for the world's top advertisers.

    Our team operates at huge scale internationally but we keep a small-company, fast-pace, rapid innovation energy. We're hiring world-class BD & Partnerships folks, giving a fantastic platform for innovation and growth to the right talent.

    We are Teads! Join us and build the future of advertising: https://www.teads.com/teads-careers/

  • Outbrain (NASDAQ: $OB) executive team.

    Various BD, Corp Dev and Strategy/Transformation efforts:

    - ~$1b acquisition and merger with Teads, 2024/25
    - $OB IPO, 2021
    - various acquisitions and investments
    - led/expanded BD & Partnerships programs delivering 9-figures p/a incremental revenue

  • How Can I Help shows how and where YOU can lend a hand to people and projects that need your help!

    COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the world and people around us. How Can I Help was launched to connect people who can and want to help to initiatives that need support.

    The project is evolving rapidly - think you can help us move faster and smarter? Please get in touch!

  • Cracking the US: What I Wish I’d Known

    "Every hour spent nailing the US yields 5-10x the return of an hour spent on any other market.” But expansion is as challenging (and costly) for an outsider as it is rewarding.

    Craig Hughes (EVP Strategy & Corp Dev at Teads, formerly Unruly) has lived it: from a $100M+ acquisition, to permanent relocation, from near-failures to a transformative turnaround, and ultimately a billion-dollar merger.

    Join a candid conversation about the critical decisions that separate success from expensive failure: when to relocate vs. hire local, how to scale without losing your DNA, solving friction between local sales and distant product teams, and other hard-won insights.

  • The Adweek 50 of 2021: Shining a Well-Deserved Spotlight on Behind-the-Scenes Stars 

  • 42 rising stars of adtech who are solving advertisers' toughest problems

  • Served on Unruly's Executive Team.

    Led the programmatic transformation of the business, involved in all aspects of repositioning, change management and growth.

    Responsible for driving channel & BD strategy and revenue growth globally.