Heart Appoints Deputy Programme Director

Chrysalis-owned Heart Radio has announced the appointment of Paul Gerrard as its new deputy programme director in the West Midlands.

In his new role, Gerrard will report into programme director, Luis Clark, and will oversee Heart output across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and surrounding areas.

Most recently Gerrard has been the programme controller at Fire 107.6 in Bournemouth. The role at Heart has been created to help extend their already consumer base and to assist in brand development across on-line and other multi-media strands.

Clark said: “Paul’s vast experience of music, coaching and leadership can only add to the success of Heart. He is incredibly creative, very talented and I am delighted he is joining the Heart Programming team.”

Gerrard added: “Heart is a great brand and the number of people who listen to them is testimony to that. I believe this is down to successes such as its people and Chrysalis’s commitment to great radio and I’m really looking forward to being part of it.”

At the last RAJARs, for the fourth quarter of 2006, total Heart recorded a weekly reach of 3.1 million, down 2.1% year on year, whilst its share of listening remained static year on year at 2.4% (see BBC Stations Continue To Perform Well).

However, taken on just its London performance, Heart was well ahead of the pack, with the Q4 2006 RAJAR figures revealing the station to have the highest weekly reach, share of listening and hours per listener amongst the commercial FM stations in the capital (see Heart 106.2 FM Retains Top Spot In London).

Chrysalis: 020 7221 2213 www.chrysalis.com