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Padstow speedboat accident: tributes pour in for Nick Milligan Padstow speedboat accident: tributes pour in for Nick Milligan
(5 months later)
Nick Milligan, the BSkyB head of advertising sales who was killed in a speedboat accident in Padstow, Cornwall, on Sunday afternoon, has been described as a "universally liked and generous spirited" family man in tributes from media industry colleagues.Nick Milligan, the BSkyB head of advertising sales who was killed in a speedboat accident in Padstow, Cornwall, on Sunday afternoon, has been described as a "universally liked and generous spirited" family man in tributes from media industry colleagues.
Milligan, 51, had a 30-year career in TV advertising airtime sales, and while seen as a fierce competitor and canny operator in a sector often characterised by a macho, cut-throat culture, he was also described as one of the industry's more likeable, well-rounded characters.Milligan, 51, had a 30-year career in TV advertising airtime sales, and while seen as a fierce competitor and canny operator in a sector often characterised by a macho, cut-throat culture, he was also described as one of the industry's more likeable, well-rounded characters.
He worked for several ITV companies and UK Gold before becoming Channel 5's launch sales director. As managing director of Sky Media, he had been in charge of the satellite broadcaster's airtime sales operation for the past nine years.He worked for several ITV companies and UK Gold before becoming Channel 5's launch sales director. As managing director of Sky Media, he had been in charge of the satellite broadcaster's airtime sales operation for the past nine years.
"Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family. Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry. Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time," Sky said in a statement on Monday."Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family. Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry. Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time," Sky said in a statement on Monday.
Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva, who lived just a few streets away from Milligan in Wandsworth, south-west London, said he had been happy to help out recently when she asked him to do a favour for the National Youth Orchestra.Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva, who lived just a few streets away from Milligan in Wandsworth, south-west London, said he had been happy to help out recently when she asked him to do a favour for the National Youth Orchestra.
"There was no hesitation, it was 'what can I do to help?', that is what he was like. He was universally liked and generous spirited," Mackenzie added."There was no hesitation, it was 'what can I do to help?', that is what he was like. He was universally liked and generous spirited," Mackenzie added.
Ben Fenton, media consultant with PR firm Edelman and former FT media correspondent, described Milligan "as probably the best practitioner of the dark arts of ad sales of his time".Ben Fenton, media consultant with PR firm Edelman and former FT media correspondent, described Milligan "as probably the best practitioner of the dark arts of ad sales of his time".
"He was also one of the kindest and most pleasant men you could hope to meet. He was funny, irreverent, relaxed, massively on top of his brief and a joy to have as a friend," Fenton said. "He was generous with his time; he helped people who were in trouble even if they were rivals, and he was always looking for a laugh out of life. I will miss him more than I can possibly say.""He was also one of the kindest and most pleasant men you could hope to meet. He was funny, irreverent, relaxed, massively on top of his brief and a joy to have as a friend," Fenton said. "He was generous with his time; he helped people who were in trouble even if they were rivals, and he was always looking for a laugh out of life. I will miss him more than I can possibly say."
A former colleague who worked with Milligan for more than 15 years in TV ad sales described him as being in the first wave of a new generation who rose to the top of the sector in the late 1980s and 1990s.A former colleague who worked with Milligan for more than 15 years in TV ad sales described him as being in the first wave of a new generation who rose to the top of the sector in the late 1980s and 1990s.
"He rose through the ranks fast, he was good at what he did and he was fun to be with," the industry insider said. "He climbed to the top of the tree and was a family man. He was not of the old school, hard-nut negotiator mould; he was the very first of a new generation of smarter TV sales man, less reliant on aggression and bullying to drive deals.""He rose through the ranks fast, he was good at what he did and he was fun to be with," the industry insider said. "He climbed to the top of the tree and was a family man. He was not of the old school, hard-nut negotiator mould; he was the very first of a new generation of smarter TV sales man, less reliant on aggression and bullying to drive deals."
Educated at Millfield school, Somerset, Milligan began his TV sales career at ITV south of England company TVS in 1983, moving to another ITV franchise, Central, as general sales manager three years later. By 1988 he was at ITV London weekday company Thames in the some role, and promoted to be the company's sales controller two years later. In 1993, he joined the launch team for pay-TV channels UK Gold and UK Living. Three years later he was on another launch team as founding sales director of Channel 5, the fifth and final UK terrestrial network, which went on air in 1997.Educated at Millfield school, Somerset, Milligan began his TV sales career at ITV south of England company TVS in 1983, moving to another ITV franchise, Central, as general sales manager three years later. By 1988 he was at ITV London weekday company Thames in the some role, and promoted to be the company's sales controller two years later. In 1993, he joined the launch team for pay-TV channels UK Gold and UK Living. Three years later he was on another launch team as founding sales director of Channel 5, the fifth and final UK terrestrial network, which went on air in 1997.
Milligan stayed with Channel 5 for seven years, rising to become deputy chief executive, before switching to managing director of Sky Media in 2004.Milligan stayed with Channel 5 for seven years, rising to become deputy chief executive, before switching to managing director of Sky Media in 2004.
Sky Media sells advertising for about 100 satellite channels, including in-house services such as Sky Atlantic, Sky News, Sky Movies and Sky Sports, and for third parties including MTV and Discovery.Sky Media sells advertising for about 100 satellite channels, including in-house services such as Sky Atlantic, Sky News, Sky Movies and Sky Sports, and for third parties including MTV and Discovery.
In a rare 2011 interview with trade magazine Campaign, Milligan, who was married with four children, listed his interests outside work as "The kids, skiing, golf, motorbikes, anything outdoors", and his most treasured possession as a beach house in Trebetherick, Cornwall, situated just across the Camel estuary from Padstow.In a rare 2011 interview with trade magazine Campaign, Milligan, who was married with four children, listed his interests outside work as "The kids, skiing, golf, motorbikes, anything outdoors", and his most treasured possession as a beach house in Trebetherick, Cornwall, situated just across the Camel estuary from Padstow.
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