Emap Strengthens Radio Business With New Appointments
Emap has moved to strengthen its radio business with the appointment of Shaun Gregory as managing director of national brands and Travis Baxter as head of the Big City network.
The shake-up will see Gregory (pictured), previously Emap Performance’s director of development, assume responsibility for the growth of the company’s portfolio of national radio networks including Kiss, Magic and Kerrang, as well as Smash Hits, Heat and The Hits.
The latest RAJAR results for the three months to September reveal a mixed bag for Emap’s national radio brands with Kiss, Magic and Kerrang in rude health. However, year on year analysis reveals heavy declines in week reach for Smash Hits, Q and The Hits (see RAJAR Results Q3 2004: talkSPORT Boosted By Euro 2004).
Meanwhile, Baxter becomes managing director of Emap’s eight Big City stations which broadcast across the north of England. He will work closely with station bosses to deliver growth in audience, revenue and overall margin across the network.
Baxter joined Emap as managing director of the Kerrang radio network in April this year with responsibility for driving growth of the rock music station. He oversaw the launch of Kerrang! 105.2 in the West Midlands, which began broadcasting as a full-time FM station earlier this year (see Kerrang! Radio Appoints Baxter To Oversee Expansion).
Commenting on the appointments, Dee Ford, group managing director of Emap Performance, said: “Emap is committed to growing our radio business by increasing the number of commercially attractive listeners we deliver to our advertisers. We are uniquely placed to deliver benefits from both analogue and digital services and Travis and Shaun will work side by side to continue making this happen.”
Baxter’s new role will see him based at Key 103 in Manchester, while Gregory will be based at Mappin House in London. Gregory will continue to be responsible for Emap Radio’s ongoing digital expansion and will still oversee the radio development team.
Last month Emap announced the appointment of Gary Hughes as chairman of its digital radio and television division. As head of the Emap Performance division, Hughes is responsible for extending the company’s brand strategy and extending its use of cross-media initiatives (see Hughes Appointed Chairman Of Emap Broadcast Division).
Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk
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