Audacy’s regionalized sales restructuring is taking shape beyond the org chart, as the broadcaster moves veteran market leaders into advisory and format-focused roles in the wake of eliminating the Market Manager position in favor of Regional Vice Presidents.
Former Virginia Market Manager Bennett Zier, who spent more than four decades in radio and earned a Marconi Award for Radio Manager of the Year, is stepping into a Senior Advisor role for Audacy’s Virginia markets while also taking on special projects with CEO Kelli Turner, President Chris Oliviero, and the executive team out of New York.
New England, East, and Texas Region President Mark Hannon announced Zier’s transition internally, saying the four-decade veteran’s “leadership and advocacy of radio can’t be matched.”
Former Atlanta Market Manager Rick Caffey has been named Chairman, continuing to advise the Atlanta market while helping grow Audacy’s Urban format alongside Urban Format Vice President Skip Dillard.
Mike Thomas, a Marconi Award winner who led Audacy Boston as SVP/Market Manager, moves to SVP Programming Boston and Sports Format Vice President, based at WEEI. He’ll collaborate with Sports Format Vice Presidents Mitch Rosen and Chris Kinard on Audacy’s sports portfolio. Thomas previously held executive roles in sports programming at CBS Radio, and under his market leadership Audacy Boston earned Marconi Awards for Station of the Year for WBMX and Personality of the Year for The Greg Hill Show.
Oliviero said Caffey and Thomas bring “powerful skills to our content strategy team” and noted he has known both for more than 20 years. “I speak for Kelli, Jeff, and our entire programming leadership team in saying these are two exceptional moves for Audacy,” Oliviero wrote.
In addition, former Chicago Market Manager Kevin Cassidy is also remaining with the company as a Senior Advisor, Radio Ink has learned.
