Classic FM Loses Managing Director To ITV
Classic FM’s managing director and programme controller, Roger Lewis, is leaving the GWR-owned radio station at the end of next month to join ITV.
News of his departure comes on the morning that GWR and Capital agree the terms of their proposed £711 million merger, which will see the creation of the UK’s largest commercial radio company controlling more than 40% of the airtime sales market (see Capital And GWR Agree £711 Million Merger Terms).
It is understood that Lewis, who has been at Classic FM for the last six years, has been in talks with ITV for some months. However, he was unable to announce his decision to step down earlier because of the effect it would have had on merger talks.
Lewis joins ITV as managing director of the network’s Welsh operations, with responsibility for all broadcasting matters including the commissioning of the ITV Wales regional schedule. He will also manage the regional affairs department liasing on all compliance, training and broadcasting issues.
ITV managing director, Mick Desmond, said: “Roger clearly has a great creative talent for understanding audiences and reaching into to the heart of the community. His track record in the music and radio businesses is unparalleled. These skills will transfer to television seamlessly and under his direction we know the quality of our original programming will continue to strengthen and attract the broadest range of viewers.”
Lewis will be replaced by Classic FM managing editor, Darren Henley, who will assume full responsibility for the day to day running of the station. He will report directly to GWR executive chairman, Ralph Bernard, who said: “Under Roger’s leadership Classic FM has reached new heights in terms of both revenues and audiences.”
“The past six years at Classic FM have been some of the most enjoyable of my career to date. I will always have an enormous affection for Classic FM. I am confident that Classic FM will continue to develop and grow in the future,” added Lewis.
Lewis began his radio career over twenty years ago at Radio Tees, before going on to work at Capital Radio and the BBC, where he became head of the Radio One music department. He was also worldwide president of the Decca Record Company and a managing director at EMI Records, before joining GWR in November 1998.
Classic FM has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Lewis, with expansion of its core radio business into digital television and the internet. Weekly reach has also increased significantly during his tenure, but the latest RAJAR results for the three months to June 2004 reveal a slight 1.2% year on year dip for the station to just below the 6.5 million mark.
GWR Group: 020 7284 3000 www.gwrgroup.com
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