Johnny Hughes
CMO & Chairman, AI Council. Founder, Zillas
Johnny Hughes is an award-winning strategic digital marketing advisor, leading enterprise B2B clients through full-funnel lead generation, AI integration and conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies.
Serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Chairman of the AI Council at Avenue Z, Johnny leads the digital delivery production and internal marketing teams at the agency.
/EXPERTISE AREAS
B2B Lead Generation
Conversion Rate Optimization
Growth Strategies
Building and Selling Companies
Performance Marketing
AI & Emerging Tech
SEO Marketing Strategies
Full-funnel Marketing
Website Design & Optimization
A/B Testing & Experimentation
About Me
With decades of experience, Johnny has assisted enterprise brands in improving their online presence and achieving lasting growth through innovative omn-ichannel marketing strategies. He founded the Zillas agency in 2007, where a strategic blend of top-notch creativity and advanced digital marketing techniques converge to meet the needs of today’s business leaders.
He has provided solutions for various global organizations in different industries, including healthcare, fintech, manufacturing, technology, entertainment, and tourism, having worked with notable clients, including AAA, Truist Bank, AdventHealth, Orlando Magic, Goodwill, Boys & Girls Club, and Piper Aircraft.
Hughes’ exceptional blend of creativity and forward-thinking innovation continue to position him as a thought leader, navigating through decades of transformative digital landscapes. Now, as the Chief Marketing Officer for Avenue Z, he integrates marketing advancements from emerging technologies like Web3, Generative AI (such as Funnel GPT), and Web XR into his visionary approach to leading the digital delivery teams across the Avenue Z Network.
Follow Me
My Latest Insights
-
What OpenAI’s New Agent Builder Means for the Future of AI Workflows
OpenAI’s new Agent Builder introduces a visual workflow canvas, centralized connector registry, and support for MCP—bringing AI agent creation…
-
Too Much Hype or Not Enough? Hands-On with Claude Code 2 + Sonnet 4.5
Claude Code 2 and Sonnet 4.5 aren’t just smarter, they’re more usable.
-
Buy It in ChatGPT: The Agentic Era of Commerce is Officially Here
AI has been building toward this moment for years. Now it’s here. Instant checkout inside ChatGPT is live, and…
-
AI Appreciation Requires More Than Hype
At Avenue Z, we believe AI is only as powerful as the principles behind its use. For us, appreciation…
-
The Browser Is Dead. Long Live the Agent.
A new operating system for how humans interact with the internet is coming.
-
From Visibility to Influence: Why Website Optimization is the New Brand Equity
Most brands treat website optimization like a checklist, fast load times, clean metadata, without realizing it’s now a reputation…
Connect With Us
Stay in touch. Discuss your needs with us and see how we can help.