Michael P. Hughes

Mike is senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Kaleida Health, Western New York’s largest employer and largest provider of health care services.

Recruited to Kaleida Health in 2004, he is responsible for the hospital system’s external affairs including marketing, communications, and government affairs. He also oversees business development as well as campus development, construction, real estate, planning and parking.

Active in the community, Hughes was appointed in 2008 to the board of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), becoming the youngest Commissioner in the history of the authority. Hughes also serves on the Board of Directors for Buffalo Place (chair of marketing committee), the Buffalo Police Athletic League, Mercy Flight and the West Seneca Zoning Board of Appeals.

Prior to joining Kaleida Health, Mike was recruited to and served as the Public Affairs and Marketing Manager for Rural/Metro Medical Services, a national ambulance company. He oversaw all media, government and community relations, marketing, and contract compliance in Western New York. He also served as the statewide public information officer for Rural/Metro’s nationally recognized “Disaster Response Team.”

In 2018, Hughes was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America, winning its highest award – the prestigious and nationally recognized “Silver Anvil” – for his integrated communications campaign around the relocation, rebranding and grand opening of the former Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (now Oishei Children’s Hospital).

Hughes has been named a National Federation For Just Communities “Community Leader” (2017) and the “Outstanding Practitioner” from the Public Relations Society of America Western New York Chapter (2016). In 2010, the Communication Studies Department at Canisius College named him the “Marilyn G.S. Watt Alumni Award” winner, which is presented annually to a notable alumnus from the Communication program. In 2005, Hughes was named a Business First “40 Under 40” award winner.

He is also a graduate of Leadership Buffalo (2002) and the Buffalo FBI’s Citizen’s Academy (2003). In addition to this, he has won numerous awards from International MarCom, the Healthcare Marketing Report and the Western New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Hughes completed Harvard Business School’s executive program in Cambridge, Massachusetts concentrating on health care management. He earned a master’s of business administration degree (MBA) from Medaille College as well as bachelors in Communication from Canisius College.