IMP’s marketing director, Ian Millner, has staged a breakaway from
the agency to form a multi-disciplined shop called Iris.
The new agency already has 12 staff - half of whom are from the MacManus
group subsidiary - and opens its doors with claimed billings of pounds 4
million.
Founding clients include Ericsson, Virgin Cola, Thomson Travel Group and
IT-focused companies such as Net Decisions and Screwfix Direct. Iris is
expected to specialise in technology, dotcom and youth-based
clients.
Millner has been at IMP since 1993, when he joined as a graduate
trainee, and has worked his way through the ranks. Two months ago he was
promoted from new-business director to marketing director. Among the IMP
staff joining him are the group account directors Stewart Shanley and Jo
Schwarz.
’Iris’s vision is all about surprising and delighting the most demanding
clients in the world,’ Millner said. ’We aim to meet the needs of a
growing number of clients who want the very best in multi-disciplined
marketing but want it much quicker than conventional agencies are able
to deliver.’
The agency is independent, with shares distributed among its staff. It
will open its doors at the start of April when it moves out of temporary
offices in the Strand into space in St James’s.
’IMP has been great but it’s time to move; I deserve to be in control of
my destiny,’ Millner said. ’I was inspired by reading the book about St
Luke’s and recognised the power of people.’
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