Mike Cornwell exits Iris CRM start-up after 8 months

Mike Cornwell, who was appointed executive director of Iris’ CRM start-up just eight months ago, has already left the agency, without a job to go to.
Cornwell, who has also been boss of some of biggest DM businesses in the UK, including MRM London, Joshua G2, TBWA/GGT, GGT Direct, and O&M Direct, set up Iris Customer Marketing Practice in October last year with Chris Whitson, Simon Spyer and Jason Andrews in November last year. They have a combined 103 years’ experience in the industry.
At the time, Cornwell said: “There are few truly integrated agency offerings. Iris is one of them. We hope to bring all that already makes Iris great – the passion, creativity and focus it on creating stronger, deeper and more profitable relationships between people and brands.”
His Linkedin profile now shows his main job as chairman of performance marketing company Ladder, a role he has held for the past two years. It states: “High energy business leader, experienced maker of good things happening, now looking for my next career opportunity.”
Prior to Ladder, Cornwell was chief executive of the IDM, having succeeded founder Professor Derek Holder, who passed away in 2012. He stepped down after just over two years.
He started his career on the client-side in 1981 at American Express, where he became marketing manager for cards, staying for four years.
He then followed this with spells at the now defunct McCarthy Cosby Paul, Mardev, Rapier, O&M Direct, GGT Direct, TBWA GGT, Soup and Joshua G2.
Even McCann Relationship Marketing, the agency where he held his most recent commercial role before joining the IDM, has disappeared and been rebranded MRM Meteorite.
Decision Marketing is awaiting a comment from Iris Worldwide – which recently rebranded under the bizarre strapline “For the Forward” – for the reasons behind Cornwell’s sudden exit.