Thinkbox has hired Wavemaker UK’s Elliott Millard to be its first chief strategy officer.
Millard, who will join commercial TV’s marketing body next year, is chief strategy and planning officer at Wavemaker UK.
He is a de facto replacement for Matt Hill, Thinkbox’s long-serving director of research and planning. Hill will join Sky Media next month as director of insight and measurement.
Thinkbox decided to retire Hill’s role and create a chief strategy role after a review of its requirements. However, like Hill, Millard will lead Thinkbox’s research and planning team, which includes head of partnerships Zoe Harkness, head of research Anthony Jones and head of client services Rupen Shah.
Millard will report to Thinkbox CEO Lindsey Clay and sit on the Thinkbox board, which has a collective role in evolving the vision and strategic focus of the organisation.
Clay said: “[Millard] brings immense strategic and leadership experience, alongside bags of intelligence, creativity and charm. He’s also been a prolific winner of new business and industry awards, from the Grand Effies and IPA Effectiveness Awards to Cannes Lions.
“And I’m certain he will bring all these vastly impressive capabilities to bear in helping drive commercial TV forward and telling the story of the incomparable things it does for brands. We can’t wait for him to start.”
Millard joined WPP’s Wavemaker in 2020, having previously worked at OMD (Omnicom) and Starcom (Publicis Groupe).
He added: “It was always going to take something extraordinary to tempt me away from Wavemaker and the amazing team here, but Thinkbox was it. I’ve long been an admirer not just of their passion for the industry but specifically of their work and the way they’ve championed TV in all its forms against a backdrop of astonishing change and competition.
“So I’m super excited to be joining an organisation with their reputation — and one that remains at the heart of advertising effectiveness.
“I’ve spent most of my career being a cheerleader for the power of high-quality, engaging media and I’m looking forward to continuing that, as well as challenging how brands and agencies think about TV now and for the future.”
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