NBC's CMO Miller Transitioning Out Of Role

John Miller

After nearly three decades -- mostly helming all of NBC's marketing efforts -- John Miller, chief marketing officer of NBC Universal Television Group and president of The NBC Agency, is moving toward a slow fade-out in the position. 

Miller has been giving up much of the day-to-day marketing activities in recent years at NBC Universal. In July 2008, Adam Stotsky came on board from Syfy as president of marketing for NBC Entertainment. Stotsky will continue in this role. Miller will keep the title of chief marketing officer for some time -- but will be working full-time on the integration of the coming NBC Universal-Comcast business merger.

One of Miller's major efforts -- along with senior executive Vince Manze -- was in creating the "Must See TV" campaign for NBC in the mid 1990s, when NBC had its long run as the number one network. That campaign mostly drew attention to NBC's powerful Thursday night lineup, which included a string of big-rated comedies -- from "The Cosby Show", to "Cheers," to "Seinfeld" and then to "Friends."

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"After 25 years of running marketing for NBC, and with good teams in place at NBC News, Sports and Entertainment, it seemed like a good time to finally hand things off. However, I will not remove the peacock tattoo obtained some time during the 'Must-See TV' years," said Miller in a release.

Miller and Manze also help create what NBC called the first full-service in-house advertising agency for the network, The NBC Agency, in 1999. Manze was co-president. In addition to the NBC network, the agency would do work time to time for virtually all NBC divisions and businesses.

In recent years, Miller chaired a company-wide marketing council which would meet regularly. Diverse NBC Universal divisions such as theatrical, licensing, television, home entertainment, theme parks, would share marketing efforts and opportunities to help promote each other's efforts. He will continue to chair that group through the end of the year.

Miller joined NBC in 1982 as vice president of affiliate promotion services, West Coast. He rose to president, advertising and promotion for NBC in June 1999. In 2004, Miller became chief marketing officer of Universal Television Group.

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