RAB Considers Management Structure As Sampson Departs
The Radio Advertising Bureau is considering the possibility of restructuring its senior management team following the departure of its managing director, Justin Sampson, later this year.
Sampson, who has been at the RAB since its establishment twelve years ago, is stepping down to take up a newly created role at ITV Sales, where he will work to improve the organisation’s relationship with advertisers (see ITV Poaches RAB’s Sampson To Boost Advertiser Relations).
RAB chief executive, Douglas McArthur, told NewsLine that he is considering a number of options for the radio marketing body, which include distributing the managing director’s responsibilities among its existing twenty strong team.
This course of action could mean that no permanent replacement will be sought to take over from Sampson, who has been instrumental in building the RAB into one of the most respected marketing operations in UK media.
The RAB is currently looking to expand its team and is in the process of recruiting a senior account handler with a creative agency background. McArthur explained: “It is conceivable that with a new person coming in and with the strength of the existing team, Justin’s responsibilities could be shared out. However, it is still very early days and nothing has been decided.”
He added: “If you take out a big piece of a jigsaw puzzle, like Justin, it gives the rest of the people an opportunity to move their pieces a little bit. I’ve invited the team to look at Justin’s responsibilities and see if there are any they are willing to accept.”
Before learning of Sampson’s departure, McArthur appointed client services director (operations) Michael O’Brien, client sevices director (advertisers) Mark Barber, and head of media planning Peter Cory to its board of directors. It is possible that any one of these new board members could take over from Sampson, or assume some of his current duties.
Last month the RAB welcomed news that commercial radio had secured a 7% share of display advertising for the first time, following an increased investment from a number of major FMCG brands including Proctor & Gamble and Lever Faberge (see Radio Secures Record Share Of Display Advertising).
RAB: 020 7306 2500 www.rab.co.uk
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