Compass Minerals Selects Jim Hughes as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Compass Minerals has named Jim Hughes as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. He most recently served as vice president, assistant general counsel since April 2020 and as interim general counsel since June 2025.
In his new role, Hughes will direct our company’s legal affairs, including corporate governance, commercial matters, litigation oversight, corporate compliance, intellectual property, SEC reporting, and labor and employment law, among other areas. He will lead the legal team as a strategic business partner mitigating legal, regulatory and business risks, while supporting our company’s strategic focus.
“During his time at Compass Minerals, Jim has demonstrated steady leadership, legal expertise and a commitment to high performance,” said Edward C. Dowling Jr., president and CEO. “This promotion reflects our confidence in his ability to guide our legal function.”
Hughes brings more than 20 years of legal experience to this role. Prior to Compass Minerals, he was senior counsel at The Andersons Inc., a diversified agribusiness company, and vice president and senior counsel at Waddell & Reed, a financial services company. He began his legal career as an associate attorney at law firms Husch Blackwell and Bryan Cave. Before law, Hughes gained professional experience in Investment Management and Trust at Boone County National Bank.
Hughes has Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science, history and economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
