Marketing heavyweight Mike Hutcheson joins MintHC board; Robert Capon named GM
Leading digital transformation consultancy MintHC has announced the appointment of renowned marketing figure Mike Hutcheson to its board, bolstering the firm’s strategic expertise as it continues to push boundaries in digital innovation and AI.
Hutcheson (above left) is one of the country’s most respected creative and business leaders. He co-founded Colenso BBDO in the 1970s, went on to establish Hutcheson Knowles Marinkovich (HKM) in the 80s – one of New Zealand’s creative hotshop agencies, he then joined Saatchi & Saatchi in Auckland where he was appointed Managing Director.
Beyond agency leadership, Hutcheson wrote a Master of Philosophy thesis on the Alchemy of Creativity in Business and was made an Adjunct Professor at AUT. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, author of multiple books, and founder of Hutch & Co and the Lighthouse Ideas Company. In 2021 he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame.
Hutcheson says he is delighted to be joining MintHC: “I believe the future of business communication lies with MintHC’s unrivalled expertise in harnessing emerging technologies, analytics, and, in particular, AI. Traditional communication strategies often relied on big creative bangs, much of which was wasted. MintHC, however, focuses on creatively targeting specific business solutions – and that’s the future!”
Alongside Hutcheson’s appointment, MintHC has also named Robert Capon (above right) as its new General Manager. With a career spanning leadership roles in global firms such as Oliver Wyman, Mercer, and Synlait Milk, Capon brings fresh perspectives from outside the traditional marketing sector. His background in finance, operations, and large-scale systems transformation is designed to strengthen MintHC’s ability to deliver complex, cross-industry solutions.
Capon says: “MintHC isn’t constrained by old industry habits. I was drawn to their appetite for doing things differently, and for embracing emerging technologies like AI to solve real problems for clients. I’m looking forward to helping shape the next phase of growth.”
Reflecting on the appointments, Shayne Moore, CEO and co-founder of MintHC says: “Bringing Mike onto our board and welcoming Rob as GM demonstrates the scale of ambition we have for MintHC. These appointments strengthen our ability to support clients with both strategic insight and operational delivery. At the heart of it, our mission remains clear: to help Kiwi businesses succeed, no matter their size or sector, by combining deep business connections with expertise in business insight, digital, and AI.”
With offices in Christchurch and Auckland, MintHC continues to attract top talent and partners as it helps organisations navigate an era of rapid technological change. These latest appointments follow the consultancy’s recent announcement of eight new hires across strategy, technology, and creative roles, reinforcing its investment in the people and expertise required to drive growth for New Zealand businesses.