Roger Lewis Joins Classic FM As MD

Roger Lewis, the worldwide president of Decca Records, has been appointed as managing director and programme controller of Classic FM. He will also take a seat on the board of GWR Group, Classic’s owner.

Ralph Bernard, GWR chief executive, says: “During his [Lewis’] tenure at both EMI and Decca, he has successfully challenged traditional precepts about classical music, coming up with new ideas and marketing them to great effect. Roger joins Classic FM at an important stage in the station’s development… as we approach the digital age.”

According to the latest RAJAR listening figures, Classic now has an average weekly reach of just over 5 million listeners and a share of listening of 3.7% (RAJAR Q2 1998).

Lewis was being touted as the most likely candidate to takeover as the new controller of Radio 3, but this post has gone to Roger Wright, head of BBC Classical Music since March 1997. Wright succeeds Nicholas Kenyon who moved to controller of BBC Proms and Millennium Programmes in July.

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Classic FM: 0171 284 3000 BBC Radio: 0171 580 4468