Talk Radio chiefs quit as MacKenzie moves in

Kelvin MacKenzie has become the new chairman and chief executive of Talk Radio after a five-month battle to win control of the station.

His appointment has been marked by the departure of three managers who were involved in the failed rival management buyout.

Managing director Paul Robinson, head of programming John Simons, and commercial director Stan Park resigned last Friday.

MacKenzie has taken on three new managers. Jonathan Goodwin, formerly an executive with Apax Partners Corporate Finance, comes in as the station’s chief operating officer; Mike Parry, who leaves his post as executive editor of the Press Association, has been appointed programming director; and Jason Bryant, a former Talk Radio programme director, returns as a consultant. Bryant had previously been a consultant to BBC Radio 5 Live.

Sales director Tim Bleakley, and marketing director Jane O’Hara, who were also part of the management buyout, remain with the station.

Commenting on the changes, MacKenzie says: “Our immediate priority is to motivate the staff and sort out the programming. We have set up a programming group which will completely review scheduling and content in the coming weeks.”