Kym Illman is an Australian motorsport photographer, entrepreneur and YouTuber.[1] He became known in Australia during the 1990s for establishing Messages on Hold, a phone audio marketing company, which became successful through its high-profile ambush marketing. During the mid-2010s he became a Formula One photographer and content creator. His YouTube channel alone has more than 540,000 subscribers.
Early life and career
Illman was born in Adelaide, South Australia. His father had played cricket for South Australia and ran a small business.[2][3] He worked a variety of jobs as a young man, including working in a bank, as a radio announcer in Darwin and as an audio engineer for Sky Television and Channel 9 in Perth.[4][5]
Business career
Messages on Hold
After being made redundant in 1988, Illman founded Messages On Hold, an audio advertising company.[6] Illman became well known for his ambush marketing style, promoting Messages on Hold at sporting events, most notably at Australian Football League (AFL) matches and at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[7][8] He also had a close working relationship with Australian Cricketer, Shane Warne. Currently Messages On Hold has offices in Australia and Singapore, and is one of the largest audio marketing companies in the Asia-Pacific area.[9]
Other business interests
In 2015, Kym founded Canity - an online customer service training platform.[10] With engaging, bite-sized videos, Kym created Canity to improve customer service, and make training employees easier and more efficient. Canity covers topics like Listening Skills, Phone Skills, Dealing with Difficult Customers, and The Art of Small Talk.
Over the years, Illman has also built up a significant property portfolio, with major holdings on the Gold Coast of Queensland.[11]
Racing
In 2005, Kym won the modern challenge category at the Targa West Rally, which was also the first year of the event.[12] Illman continued to race occasionally from then on, often registering in his own Mitsubishi Evo 9, and he would race in the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Targa Tasmania. At the 2011 Targa Tasmania Illman would crash but ultimately was unharmed.[13][14]
Photography
In 2015, Illman and his wife Tonya released a wildlife photo book called Africa on Safari which detailed their travels across Africa.[15][16][17]
After Illman was invited by Red Bull Racing to be a corporate guest at the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Kym applied for an FIA media accreditation which was approved soon after. He started his F1 photography work during the 2017 Formula One season and has since posted significantly more on his YouTube account, created on 20 April 2006, and has over 540,000 subscribers on the platform and millions of views.[18]
Kym’s main social media focus is the personal side of F1, sharing updates on drivers, teams, and life beyond the F1 grid. He also offers a selection of wall art, signed driver prints, photo books, and merchandise. [1]
Personal life
Kym is married to Tonya Illman. They met when Tonya joined Messages on Hold in 1990 as an administration manager. They have two sons.[19][20]
Kym and his family live in a small, coastal town in Western Australia, called Lancelin.
References
- ^ "Kym – HAPPY BIRTHDAY We've hijacked your account to wish you all the best for your birthday today! Here's to another year of capturing the goings-on and behind-the-scenes moments of F1. Enjoy a glass of Southern Comfort on us, and stay passionate, Kym — from your team on and off the track. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "On the Spot for Close-Up Action". The Advertiser. 1 November 2015. p. 22. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "About Kym Illman". Kym Illman. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ William, Gail (16 December 2012). "The inng [sic] of being a nuisance". Sunday Times. p. 40.
- ^ "Answering the call of success". The Australian Magazine. 30 September 2005. p. 5. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Robertson, Robin (7 September 1995). "Kym dials up a hotline to success". The Australian Financial Review. p. 7.
- ^ Switzer, Peter (7 August 2000). "Gospel according to a biblical nutter". The Australian. p. 37.
- ^ Mason, Graham (1 October 2000). "Messages On Hold plays Games". Sunday Times. p. 42.
- ^ Hold, Messages on. "About Us – Messages On Hold". www.messagesonhold.com.au. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "A Modern and fast way to train your staff – About Canity". Canity. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Gome, Amanda (27 February 2007). "King of the ambush". SmartCompany. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Final Results to the Inaugral Quit Targa West 2005" (PDF). Targa West. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ MOHRacing (9 April 2011). Targa Tasmania 2011 Riana ripper crash – Evo flies 35m at 190km/hr –. Retrieved 29 October 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Edwards, Phil (16 April 2012). "Illman hopes for third Targa lucky after two crashes". The Examiner. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Cumming, Gillian (12 December 2015). "Out of Africa". The Courier-Mail. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ O'Hare, Maureen (21 October 2015). "Staring down wildlife: Photogs spill secrets of amazing safari pics". CNN. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Africa on Safari". Digital Photography. Vol. 45. Sydney: Citrus Media. 2015. p. 26-33. ISSN 1839-1133. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Kym Illman". YouTube. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Sprague, Julie-anne (19 September 2002). "Message holds true at FBAs". Western Australian Business News. Archived from the original on 8 December 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Oldest message in a bottle found on Western Australia beach". BBC News. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
