Kent Hughes was named the 18th general manager in Canadiens history in January 2022. The Montreal native, who grew up in Beaconsfield, has a wealth of management experience in the hockey world, primarily as a partner and certified agent with the renowned Quebec-based firm, Quartexx Management. Hughes represented a host of NHL stars, including Patrice Bergeron, Kristopher Letang, Anthony Beauvillier and Darnell Nurse. He joined Quartexx Management in 2016 following a merger with the MFive Sports firm, with whom he was previously affiliated. At the time Hughes joined the Canadiens, he represented more than 20 players under NHL contracts.

Hughes earned his law degree from Boston College in 1996. Before embarking on a career representing professional athletes, he played collegiately at Middlebury College, sporting the Panthers' colors from 1988 to 1992. Hughes still holds several of the school's scoring records and he was inducted into the Middlebury College Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. Before joining the NCAA ranks, Hughes captained the Lac St-Louis Lions in the Quebec-based league formerly known as Ligue Midget AAA.

Kent Hughes and his wife, Deena, have three children, Riley, Morgan and Jack.