EMAP reshuffles radio subsidiary

EMAP has restructured its enlarged Emap Radio Group after completing its acquisition of the Metro Radio Group last week.

Metro Radio Group sales and marketing director Maurice Dobson becomes Emap Radio Group sales and marketing director. Metro Group finance director Eric Lawrence has joined the Emap Radio board.

Emap Radio chief executive Tim Schoonmaker takes over as acting managing director of Metro Radio and TFM. Harry Dunne, sales director of Metro’s Yorkshire stations, becomes managing director for Hallam Radio in South Yorkshire and Viking Radio in Hull.

The aim is to create a north of England sales effort for regional advertising agencies, Schoonmaker explains. Metro’s regional sales team will report directly to Piccadilly Radio sales director Barbara Gardner.

“Our aim is to decentralise wherever we can: stations run by local management respond to the local market more quickly,” adds Schoonmaker.

Metro Radio Group programme director Mic Johnson left the company last week, following the departure of group managing director John Josephs and chairman Neil Robinson.

His role remains unfilled for the time being, although Giles Squire continues as group programme director of Metro’s North-east stations. Steve King continues in the same position overseeing output for the Yorkshire stations.