It has been an extraordinary “changing of the guard” start to 2026 at the very top of the world’s major advertising agencies. Ian Millner, founder of Iris Worldwide and one of the UK advertising industry’s longest-serving agency leaders, is the latest of the leaders leader who have stepped down, resigned or fallen on their sword. Millner has stepped down as chair of the global creative network after 26 years. During that time, he built Iris from a start-up challenger into a $100 million-plus* global creative business ahead of its investment by Cheil Worldwide in 2014, and into one of the creative industry’s most distinctive micro-networks.
He will now focus on a portfolio of non-executive advisory roles working with founders and entrepreneurs across the marketing and creative industries, alongside a global advisory role with Iris Worldwide.
Millner founded Iris in 1999 as an entrepreneurial challenger to traditional advertising models, building an agency focused on ideas that people actively participate in. Over the past two decades, he has overseen the agency’s growth from a start-up challenger into a global creative network working with brands including Samsung, Beam Suntory, Brita, Bentley and Beiersdorf. Today, the agency operates across 11 offices worldwide with more than 650 people.
The transition follows a period of leadership renewal at Iris, including the appointment of Zoe Eagle as CEO of Iris London, Jill Smith as CEO of Iris Americas and Menno Kluin as global chief creative officer, alongside the continued strategic leadership of global chief strategy officer, Ben Essen. Together, the team has been driving the agency’s next phase, including the recent rebrand and positioning built around a clear industry challenge: Participate or Perish. That thinking builds on Iris’s founding belief that brands should create ideas people actively choose to engage with – a philosophy that continues to underpin the agency today
Millner commented, “It has been an incredible journey, and I’ve had the privilege of working with truly inspiring people all over the world. Iris joined Cheil ten years ago, and it has been an enormously successful partnership. With Jill and Zoe in place, and with the revitalised proposition now in market, Iris is well positioned to continue to innovate and challenge the industry at a time when many agencies are facing an identity crisis. Playing it safe is more dangerous now than ever before.”
Millner previously hosted the podcast, Entrepreneurs in the Wild, where he interviewed founders and industry leaders about building businesses and creative entrepreneurship. To mark his transition, the podcast will return for a special one-off episode featuring Millner in conversation with Rob Mayhew.
Zoe Eagle, CEO of Iris London, commented, “Ian was one of the main reasons I joined Iris. He built the agency with an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit and belief in creativity that continues to shape the business today. We’re hugely grateful for the culture and ambition he created over the past 26 years. As we enter the next chapter, we’re focused on building on that legacy – pushing our creative product forward and helping brands participate meaningfully in culture and people’s lives.”
Jill Smith, CEO of Iris Americas, added, “Ian has been a huge champion of my career and of so many people across Iris. Ian’s belief in creativity and entrepreneurial thinking has defined Iris since day one. That spirit remains central to the agency as we continue building momentum with clients around the world.”
