James Richard Hughes is the Founder and Managing Partner of Aether Capital Partners, a specialist private-markets firm established to help scale commercially proven climate, materials and industrial technologies. Aether’s first strategy, the Canopy Catalyst Fund, is focused on providing growth equity and supply-chain integration support to businesses d eveloping next-generation fibre, packaging and materials solutions.

James has more than 25 years’ experience leading global investment-management businesses across public and private markets. He has held senior executive, Board and investment-committee roles at HSBC, Natixis Investment Managers,  Aberdeen Standard Investments, Gottex and Vedra Partners.

Previously, James was Global Head of Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, with responsibility for approximately €75 billion of assets under management and €38 billion under advice. He also served on Natixis Investment Managers’ Global Executive and Management Committees, contributing to strategy across its global investment business. Before this, he led Aberdeen Standard Investments’ global client-driven solutions business, overseeing approximately US$175 billion of institutional client assets.

Earlier in his career, James was Group Chief Investment Officer of HSBC Insurance, where he chaired the Group Investment Committee and oversaw investment activities across multiple international markets, with assets exceeding US$125 billion.

Alongside his executive career, James has served as a director, non-executive director, Board observer and adviser across investment management, private equity and growth-stage technology businesses. He is particularly focused on the intersection of institutional capital, practical supply-chain development and the commercial scaling of high-impact innovation.