GMG Radio Gets New Group Head Of Presentation
GMG Radio has appointed Mark Matthews to the new role of group head of presentation.
Following the group’s recent expansion Mark will provide support for its 13 Real, Smooth, Century FM and Rock Radio stations across the UK, working with the local programme directors on on-air content and presentation.
He will also work closely with group programme director John Simons on the launch of the company’s two new stations, Smooth Radio in the north east of England and Rock Radio in Manchester.
He joins GMG Radio from The Local Radio Company where he was north west regional managing director with programming and revenue responsibility for four stations. A stint at Burnley’s 2BR followed a 10-year association with Emap where he was a programme controller for stations including Red Rose, Viking and London’s Kiss 100.
Matthews will report directly to John Simons and his appointment completes a new level of group support for GMG Radio’s stations. The position sits alongside the recently created new roles for group head of music and group head of news, held by Terry Underhill and James Rea.
John Simons said: “Mark has a great radio pedigree as a presenter, programmer and a general manager. He has a great understanding of what the listener wants and will be a fabulous addition to the team.”
Matthews said: “These days GMG Radio is the company that everyone wants to work for and it’s fantastic to be joining the team. Smooth, Real, Rock and Century are four great radio brands and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
GMG revealed at the end of January that it would be rebranding its newly acquired Saga stations as Smooth Radio, giving it a total of six Smooth stations (see GMG’s Saga Stations Go Smooth).
Smooth Radio launched in March, officially replacing the Saga Radio and Smooth FM brands, with the new look station set to target the more mature adult listener with a mix of music from the past five decades and today, combined with a selection of experienced presenters (see Smooth Transition For New Radio Transmission).
The company then appointed Chrysalis Radio Sales to handle the entire national sales contract for the expanded Smooth Radio network (see Chrysalis Appointed To Sell Smooth).
GMG Radio: www.gmgradio.co.uk