Entertainment

Pierce Thiot, Maximum Effort Creative Executive, Dies at 40

The marketing and entertainment leader behind high-profile campaigns died on Tuesday from a pulmonary embolism.

Updated Aug 28, 2026 · 17:25 UTC2 reports

The short version

Pierce Thiot, the head of creative for brand and entertainment at Maximum Effort, died Tuesday at his home in Orem, Utah.
During his nearly five-year tenure at the company co-founded by Ryan Reynolds, Thiot led numerous high-profile commercial and entertainment campaigns.
Maximum Effort and its founders expressed their condolences, highlighting his creative accomplishments and character.

Pierce Thiot died at his home in Orem, Utah, at the age of 40 on Tuesday, following a pulmonary embolism.[The Hollywood Reporter]
At the time of his death, Thiot served as the head of creative for brand and entertainment at Maximum Effort, where he worked for nearly five years alongside his professional partner Kathleen Swanson.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Maximum Effort co-founders Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey released a statement honoring Thiot's creativity, kindness, and professional accomplishments.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Thiot's work at Maximum Effort included high-profile campaigns for DoorDash, Mint Mobile, L'Oreal, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Coyote vs. Acme.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Earlier in his career, Thiot created campaigns for major global brands including Apple, Beats by Dre, Netflix, Gatorade, Airbnb, and Coca-Cola, and created the viral social project 'Will It Beard?'[The Hollywood Reporter]