Cox Media Group President of Radio Rob Babin is taking the gavel at the RAB. RAB’s board, meeting in Cleveland last week, unanimously elevated him to chair as part of a new officer slate that moves up several radio executives and brings four new directors aboard.
The board approved the slate during its September 23-24 fall meeting. Bonneville International EVP of Regional Media Operations Scott Sutherland moves up to vice chair, Lenawee Broadcasting Company President Julie Koehn becomes treasurer, and Audacy’s Jenny Nelson takes over as secretary. Townsquare Media COO Erik Hellum becomes immediate past chair.
In October 2024, the board elected Hellum chair, with Babin as vice chair, Sutherland as treasurer, and Koehn as secretary. Babin, Cox Media Group’s EVP of Radio, has been among the executives leading RAB’s One Voice for Radio campaign. In March, he urged the industry to treat digital as a primary growth engine, saying 2026 would be defined by integrated radio and digital campaigns with measurable results.
New to the board are Beasley Media Group Chief Business Officer Kevin LeGrett, Davis Broadcasting’s Greg Davis Jr., Curtis Media Group’s Trip Savery, and Midwest Communications’ Peter Tanz. LeGrett joined Beasley in February after more than 15 years at iHeartMedia. Salem Media Group Chief Revenue Officer Linnae Young has also been appointed to RAB’s Executive Committee.
RAB’s 2027 Executive Committee includes Babin, Sutherland, Koehn, Nelson, and Hellum, along with iHeartMedia’s Hartley Adkins, Seven Mountains Media and CapCity Communications’ Kristin Cantrell, All Pro Broadcasting’s Duane Davis, Saga Communications’ Chris Forgy, Hubbard Media That Connects’ Ginny Hubbard, RAB President and CEO Mike Hulvey, Katz Radio Group’s Christine Travaglini, Cumulus Media’s Bob Walker, Connoisseur Media’s Jeff Warshaw, and Young.
Babin commented, “RAB plays a vital role in bringing our industry together to address the opportunities and challenges ahead for radio. I am honored to serve as Board Chair and look forward to working alongside our board members, RAB leadership and industry partners to champion radio’s unique value, strengthen our industry and drive continued growth.”
