Bergin nets Golden Rose group role

Golden Rose Communications marketing director Jeanie Bergin has been appointed group programming director, overseeing output on Jazz FM and sister station Viva!

Bergin, formerly London chairman of FCA, has been closely involved in rebranding and rescheduling Jazz FM since joining the company in June. Jazz FM programme controller Carole Straker has left the station.

The appointment is part of a management restructure at GRC. Also on the move is Jazz

FM head of music David Freeman, who takes on responsibility for presentations. Viva! programme controller Chris Burns has become managing editor for the women’s station.

“Bergin will bring strategic thinking to our programming throughout the group,” says

GRC chief executive Richard Wheatly. Bergin has previous broadcast production experience, acquired before she came to the UK from New York during 1992.

Initial listener response to programme changes implem ented at both Jazz and Viva! is positive, Wheatly claims. “Viva!’s audience, while still small, is growing,” he adds. “Month on month, it’s up 20 per cent: the signs are encouraging.”

According to Rajar data published last month, Viva! attracted a weekly audience of 121,000 in its first three months on air (MW October 27).