John Miles is one of New Zealand’s most respected and energetic voices in marketing and business leadership. With a career spanning over three decades, John brings a rare blend of strategic thinking, operational savvy, and unrelenting curiosity to everything he does. As CEO of the New Zealand Marketing Association (NZMA), he has led a powerful transformation—turning a stagnant organisation into a thriving, globally connected powerhouse, and firmly repositioning marketing as a driver of business growth across Aotearoa.

John’s journey started in the gritty marketing trenches of FMCG and breweries before shifting into brand strategy, sponsorship, education, and executive leadership roles across New Zealand and Australia. His unique ability to spot patterns, solve problems, and spark action has made him a go-to leader for navigating complex challenges and building future-focused teams.

At NZMA, John has redefined what an industry body can be. He’s doubled event attendance, overhauled the training portfolio, introduced professional certifications, and built enduring partnerships with brands like Google, Spark, Westpac, Goodman Fielder, YouTube, TikTok and the University of Canterbury. Under his leadership, member advocacy soared from a concerning 34% to constantly scoring 100% for programs recurring membership revenue jumped by more than 50%, and MA emerged as one of the most innovative marketing associations on the global stage.

John is also a sought-after speaker who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. His talks are known for being fast, funny, and full of practical wisdom. Whether he’s sharing lessons from the golden era of Kiwi advertising, dissecting the Art of the Hustle – securing deals with a smile, or giving marketers a sharp wake-up call to get out of their own bloody way, John delivers high energy with high impact.

In 2024, John was invited to speak at the African Marketing Federation Conference and signed an MOU with the Asian Marketing Federation—putting New Zealand firmly on the global marketing map. He’s also the creator of flagship programs like The Advanced Marketing Leadership Certification, Think Again, and NZ’s 50 Greatest Campaigns – all of which reflect his commitment to helping marketers think bigger, act bolder, and lead better.

John emigrated to New Zealand at the age of six and has never looked back—except to laugh at the time his enthusiasm and cheekiness that got him dumped in a bin. Today, his passion and drive are considered his superpowers. As one marketer once put it: “John has unnatural energy.”

His philosophy? Innovate, innovate, and innovate again. And when that’s not working? Sod it, let’s just do it.

Outside of work John is a keen golfer, loves to travel and in the dark ages represented New Zealand in badminton.

Speaking topics include:

Why you Need to Innovate, Innovate then Innovate Again – adding value the key to sustained business growth

How to Get Out of Your Own Bloody Way – stop stuffing around and make things happen.

The Science of the Hustle – The Art of Getting Deals Done — With a Smile

The Traits of Brilliant New Zealand Advertising – why it pays to be creative –The Best NZ Ads of the Last 50 Years , what Can We Learn From Them