Classic radio chief departs over cutbacks

Classic FM sales director Giles Howard has left after resources from his sales team were switched to the company’s autumn digital radio launch.

The number of sales teams for the UK’s largest national commercial radio station was last week cut from three to two, prompting Howard’s departure from the GWR-owned operation.

Resources from this third team will be put into Digital One – the national digital radio franchise in which GWR has a significant stake.

Classic FM’s sales operation is housed in the GWR-owned sales house Opus, which has responsibility not only for the classical music station but also the London News Network’s two news and chat frequencies, as well as 35 other GWR-owned music-based local radio operations around the country.

Opus managing director Duncan George comments: “Giles leaves the company in a far better position than when he joined. He feels this restructure is the perfect time for him to move on to new opportunities.”

Howard is understood not to have a job to go to.