Agency founder takes on trio of leadership roles

Ian Millner, founder of Iris Worldwide, has taken on three senior leadership positions following his departure from the agency earlier this year.

Ian has been appointed chairman of independent brand activation group ZEAL, non-executive chairman of creator economy agency NewGen and non-executive director at integrated marketing group MSQ.

The appointments mark his first roles since stepping down from Iris Worldwide in March after 26 years, during which he grew the business into an international creative agency network.

At Manchester-headquartered ZEAL, he will work alongside founders Stewart Hilton and Robert White as the group continues its expansion following recent acquisitions and launches. 

At NewGen, he will support chief executive and co-founder Mike Craddock and the leadership team as the agency pursues international growth and investment in technology and talent.

The trio of appointments reflects Ian’s focus on supporting ambitious marketing businesses through their next stage of development and growth.

Ian said: “Having spent my career building a business from the ground up, I’m excited by the opportunity to work alongside founders and leaders who are creating the next generation of marketing companies.

“What attracted me to ZEAL, NewGen and MSQ is the quality of the people, the ambition of the businesses, and the momentum they’ve created. 

“Each has a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a clear sense of where it's heading. I'm excited to support them as they build on that momentum.”

Stewart added: “As we’ve expanded the business through the acquisition of Tommy and the launch of Joe Public, Ian has already become a hugely valuable partner to us, helping shape our thinking as we’ve grown. 

“As the market continues to shift, we believe the future belongs to models that are built around action, not just attention. 

“With Ian’s experience and support, we’re in a strong position to lead that change.”

Mike added: “Having someone of Ian's calibre join us is a real statement of where NewGen is heading. 

“He has built something remarkable at Iris over 26 years – from a start-up challenger into a global creative force – and his expertise in scaling agencies, developing talent and building lasting client relationships is exactly what we need as we continue to grow.”

Ian will continue to advise Iris Worldwide in a global advisory capacity alongside his new non-executive roles.

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