He’s the Senior VP and GM of Greater Media Interactive, a role he’s occupied since 2007, and he says he’ll be retiring at the end of this month. Before going digital, Tom Bender was Regional GM for Greater Media’s Detroit cluster since 1986, where he was responsible for creating one of the first Classic Rock stations in America, WCSX-FM, and a whole lot more.
Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth said, “Tom has been a great friend who has played a major role in the success of our Detroit market as well as the overall company. We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of his radio legacy. We wish Tom the very best in his retirement.”
Bender has served Arbitron Advisory Council, the NAB’s COLRAM committee, and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Radio Issues Committee. He was also
the first market manager in America to launch the HD Digital Radio initiative with RIFF2 in August of 2005. He was inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in July of 2007.
Bender said, “I am grateful to Peter Smyth for allowing me to lead our digital initiative for the past six years as we worked to conquer the digital challenges to radio. He has been a friend as well as a great boss. I was privileged to work in my hometown with a wonderful group of people who created WCSX-FM and built upon the 45-year heritage of WRIF, where I began my career. Greater Media is an extraordinary company and I thank them for a creative and innovative culture in which to work. Now it’s time for a new chapter in my life!”
Steve Meyers, Greater Media’s Director of Digital Operations, will assume strategic management of the company’s digital efforts, and Jennifer Williams, Digital Marketing Director, will continue to direct the company’s Content Factory in Detroit.
