GWR Group has announced a series of new executive boards in readiness for the changes in regulation expected with the publication of the Communications Reform White Paper. The five UK divisions of the radio group will be supported by three new boards, allowing the group to sharpen its focus and maximise its profit potential when the expected regulatory changes come into play.
The radio group, which owns Classic FM as well as local licences in the UK and overseas, has been at the forefront of calls for reform within the radio industry. In particular, the points system under which commercial radio is bound, limits radio owners to just 15% listening share, while the BBC occupies a 50% share.
A UK Local Radio division within the group will be headed by Steve Orchard, who will seek further acquisitions and expansions following the relaxation of ownership controls. Responsibility for programming content and its roll-out onto appropriate platforms will be headed by Ralph Bernard, and Roger Lewis will head the new commercial board, which will incorporate the group’s sales house, Opus.
One of the new key responsibilities will be the identification of potentially profitable areas of expansion within new media and technology. Simon Ward, head of the new digital division said: “By co-ordinating all of our digital and new media operations into one division, we can ensure that all the synergies are fully exploited, and be in the best position to identify and profit from emerging technologies.
