Ian Millner, founder of Iris Worldwide and one of the industry’s best-known agency founders, has announced his first appointments following his departure from the business earlier this year.
Millner has been appointed chairman of Manchester independent brand activation group ZEAL and non-executive chairman of creator economy agency NewGen, in newly created roles designed to support the businesses’ next phase of growth. He has also joined integrated marketing group MSQ as a non-executive director.
The appointments come after Millner stepped down from Iris Worldwide in March, having spent 26 years building the agency from a start-up challenger into one of the industry’s most distinctive global creative networks, and reflect Millner’s decision to work with ambitious marketing businesses focused on their next phase of growth.
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Millner 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.”
At ZEAL Group, Millner will work alongside founders Stewart Hilton and Robert White as the business continues its expansion strategy following the acquisition of social-first studio Tommy and the launch of retail and shopper PR agency Joe Public.
Founded in Manchester in 2014, ZEAL has grown into one of the UK’s most awarded brand activation groups, bringing together specialist capabilities across shopper, experiential, partnerships, PR, social, influencer, and digital marketing. The group works with brands including Nestlé, Carlsberg Britvic, Suntory, Kraft Heinz, Kellanova, Arla, Essity and Revlon.
NewGen also has a significant Manchester presence, alongside its HQ in London and hubs in New York and Paris. Millner joins as non-executive chair, supporting CEO and co-founder Mike Craddock and the leadership team as the creator economy agency continues its international expansion and investment in technology, talent and creator-led marketing.
Founded in 2015, NewGen helps brands connect with audiences through creator-led marketing, social-first creativity, and proprietary technology platforms. The agency works with brands including Samsung, PepsiCo, P&G, Galderma and Activision Blizzard.
Millner has also joined MSQ as a non-exec director, supporting the group’s continued growth across marketing, communications and consultancy.
ZEAL Group co-founder Hilton said: “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.”
NewGen’s Craddock 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.”
Millner will continue to advise Iris Worldwide in a global advisory capacity alongside his new non-executive roles.
