Ron Miller, the legendary TV salesman, is to formally retire from the
media industry, relinquishing his posts at a range of companies,
including TMD Carat.
Miller, who made his personal fortune out of the ‘golden handcuffs’
arrangement at LWT, where he was sales director, is to move to the tax
haven of Guernsey.
He was one of the best-rewarded of the LWT executives who gained
millions of pounds in LWT share bonuses as a reward for helping the
London weekend ITV contractor retain its licence in 1991. Their number
also included Greg Dyke, the then chief executive, and Christopher
Bland, the chairman.
By the time he left LWT in 1994, Miller’s shares were worth almost
pounds 9 million. However, he decided at the time that his contacts and
experience could be put to good use as a non-executive director of other
companies and interests.
Miller was taken on by TMD Carat in 1994 as a consultant to the board
and has also been working for the European media giant, CLT, and for the
industry’s charity, NABS.
His retirement closes the book on a career which spanned more than 20
years at LWT and saw Miller rise to become one of the industry’s most
high-profile and best-loved salesmen.
Ray Kelly, the chairman and chief executive of Carat UK, said Miller was
a unique talent. ‘There’ll only ever be one Ron Miller. He brought
humour and wise counsel to Carat and we couldn’t find another person
like him, though we’re keeping an open mind about what we will do with
the role he’s been performing.’
Miller is expected to leave TMD later this month.
