In a move that signals a major shift in the creative production landscape, The Heist, a Thinkingbox company, has significantly expanded its creative and client services teams with the addition of top talent from The Mill—including acclaimed Executive Creative Director Patrick Coleman and much of The Mill’s former North American design team.
Coleman, now serving as ECD for The Heist, brings with him an award-winning body of work and a reputation for redefining the bar for animation and design excellence. Based primarily in Chicago, he’ll lead The Heist’s creative vision across North America and help build the company’s presence in the region.
“I’m beyond excited to join the Heist family! It’s an incredible opportunity to bring along so many talented friends to strengthen an already thriving studio and help elevate it even further,” said Coleman. “The creativity, warmth, and ‘can-do’ attitude truly resonate with me—I’m thrilled to see what we do together!”
Joining Coleman are Blake Nickle and Jason Esser, who step into new roles at Thinkingbox as Director of Production, Chicago and Creative Director, respectively. Both bring years of experience from The Mill, with Nickle known for leading high-impact production across categories, and Esser celebrated for his visually bold, emotionally resonant creative work. Together, they’ll lead operations at the newly opened Thinkingbox Chicago office.
In another strategic hire, Justin Inman joins as SVP of Business Development, bringing with him deep experience from both Google and The Mill. Inman will lead growth efforts with a strong emphasis on collaboration and long-term partnerships.
“Joining the team wasn’t about capitalizing on a crisis—it was about finding a place that valued people, craft, and long-term thinking,” noted Inman. “We have the opportunity to do it differently and build upon an already strong foundation. To stay creatively led, people-first, and flexible—where clients feel like true partners, not just line items.”
The announcement follows news of Technicolor’s bankruptcy, which was broken by sister publication Reel 360 News and sent shockwaves through the creative community. While The Mill’s legacy continues to be revered, this transition signals a fresh chapter for its former design team—one that honors their craft in a new creative home.
“Talent remains the driving force behind innovation,” said Amir Sahba, CEO of Thinkingbox. “Bringing in Patrick and his team of designers and animators represents more than just growth. It’s a bold investment in the future of storytelling.”
With offices now spanning Los Angeles, New York, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, Toronto, Mexico City, and Chicago, Thinkingbox and The Heist continue their mission to merge animation, design, and live-action into a seamless, world-class content offering.
Stay tuned—more announcements are expected as Thinkingbox continues discussions with former talent from The Mill across North America and Europe.
This is a developing story...
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1
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