John Miller, chief marketing officer for the NBC Television Group, will leave the post at the end of this year in a move the company has been preparing for over the past year, individuals at NBCU have confirmed to TheWrap.
Miller, who has been with NBCU for 28 years, has been transitioning toward retirement for some time, and the company has been making moves to divide his areas of oversight to other people within the company.
However, Miller may be having second thoughts about retiring — as he and the company are trying to find a continuing role for him down the road, the individuals said.
One company insider said that when Adam Stotsky was hired in July 2008 as president of marketing for NBC Entertainment, that "it was thought that he would ultimately be John’s successor when he stepped down."
But it now seems that once Miller departs, he will not be replaced in his role as CMO.
Late last year Stotsky, who joined NBCU from the old Sci Fi Channel, was given oversight of areas under Miller’s control. Also last year, marketing for the NBCU news operation was moved under the jurisdiction of Steve Capus, president of NBC News.
And last month Andrew Ault was named to a newly created position of executive creative director for NBCU’s Integrated Sales Marketing team. In that role, he oversees an in-house creative team that is charged with developing concepts and strategies for the company’s cross-platform sales efforts.
All of this has been done with the blessing of Miller, the NBC insiders told TheWrap.
While most of his day-to-day oversight has been divided up, Miller is still chairman of the NBCU Marketing Council, which meets regularly.
"John has been here a long time, NBC is his life," one NBC insider told TheWrap. "He is certainly not being forced out. It was his decision to leave."
Individuals inside of NBC said Miller was planning to leave early this year but was asked by members of NBCU’s top management to stay on through this year.
His role in NBCU marketing is legendary. Over the years, he has overseen the creation of a number of successful marketing campaigns for NBC network, including the "Must See TV" campaign.
For years he and Vince Manze oversaw the TV industry’s first full-service ad agency within a TV network, the NBC Agency. He also has served as president, advertising & promotion for NBC, has held assorted other ad and marketing positions within the company.
He was inducted into the PROMAX Hall of Fame in 1991, the association of electronic media marketing professionals. Miller, Manze and their NBC marketing colleagues also won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Commercial in 1999, and he’s been named Entertainment Marketer of the Year four times.
