Jackson Leaves Virgin For Capital

Paul Jackson, chief executive of Virgin Radio, is to join GCap Media as managing director of Capital 95.8.

As managing director of Capital 95.8, he will have responsibility for leading the growth strategy for the station overseeing programming, marketing, new media and commercial opportunities. He will report to GCap’s London MD, Fru Hazlitt.

Hazlitt said: “The MD of Capital is probably the most high-profile job in commercial radio and we are delighted to have been able to recruit someone as talented as Paul. He has a brilliant track record, a broad set of skills and I am confident that Capital will flourish under his leadership.”

Jackson commented: “I am thrilled to join Capital 95.8. It’s the station I’ve always aspired to lead and to be given the opportunity to be MD at this time is both a great challenge and hugely exciting for me personally.”

Commenting on the announcement, Rob Woodward, CEO of SMG, the owner of Virgin Radio, said: “Virgin Radio consistently outperforms the market, has a unique audience relationship and is the leader in digital listening.

“We are privileged to have Richard Huntingford, one of the most respected figures in commercial radio, as chairman of Virgin Radio. Richard and I are working to build a first-class management team, and look forward to appointing a CEO with the right experience to lead the business into the public markets.”

The latest RAJAR figures, for Q2 2007, show that Capital’s weekly reach dropped both period on period and year on year, by around 6.4% and 7.4% respectively, giving the station a total weekly reach of over 1.5 million.

Its average hours per listener figure was also down, falling by almost 4.8% year on year to 6%, whilst its share of listening was down 18 percentage points over the same period to just over 4% (see Magic FM Bolsters Weekly Reach To Over 1.9 Million In London).

GCap Media: 0207 663 7000 www.gcapmedia.com