Virgin Scoops GCap Boss For Sales Role
Virgin radio has poached GCap Media’s head of agency sales, Nick Hewat as its new sales director, ahead of Fru Hazlitt’s instatement as the station’s new chief executive this summer.
Hewat, who will end a five year career with GCap, formerly Capital Radio Group, will take over as Virgin’s sales director following Lee Roberts’ departure from the role last month by mutual agreement (see Sales Director Roberts Leaves Virgin).
Hazlitt is believed to have masterminded Hewat’s appointment, prior to her joining Virgin from her position as managing director of internet search giant, Yahoo (see SMG Strengthens Hold Over Virgin Radio).
Hewat’s departure will come as a blow to GCap, which has seen several high-profile management figures leave the company in the run up to the Capital GWR merger. Among those to have jumped ship are commercial managing director Linda Grant, who had been due to head up the new firm’s single sales house (see Capital And GWR Name Team For Single Sales House), and Mike Hope Milne, Capital Radio’s former commercial content director.
Peter Charlton, national sales director for the local radio group at GWR sales house, Opus, also left his post in the pre-merger run up, taking the role of national sales director at Viacom Outdoor in July (see Viacom Outdoor Raids GWR For Sales Chief).
Hewat is optimistic about his new move, however, stating: “I am looking forward to joining a sales team which has one of the most dynamic and innovative reputations in the industry. I’m looking forward to driving the station’s performance even higher.”
Paul Jackson, acting chief executive at Virgin added: “Nick’s a major player who will make a big difference to our sales offering. Attracting someone of such calibre is a ringing endorsement of the direction Virgin Radio is taking. He will bring fresh ideas and a new vision to add to the industry’s premier sales team.”
Virgin recently announced plans to boost the appeal of its spin off station, Virgin Classic Rock, with the inclusion of live programming in its schedules. The move, designed to increase audiences and create a more tangible station identity, should be in place by the end of the month (see Virgin To Boost Rock Station With Live Output).
Meanwhile, Virgin’s flagship station saw its weekly reach dip by 2.7% year on year in the three months to March, currently resting at 2.4 million. However, the station’s share of listening has increased slightly, adding 0.1% points in the same period, while an increase in average hours per listener shows the station’s fans to be loyal, adding 8.3% year on year to 6.5 hours.
Virgin Radio: 020 7434 1215 www.virginradio.co.uk