Radio industry denies RAB chief ‘favourite to run body’

Radio industry insiders have dismissed suggestions that Douglas McArthur, chief executive of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), is the favourite to run the new single radio industry trade body.

The new organisation, which was announced at the start of this week, will involve a partial merger of the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) and the RAB under one chief executive and an umbrella name. The working title is the Commercial Radio Company.

CRCA chief executive Paul Brown says the search will be a “proper competition”. Neither Brown nor McArthur have ruled themselves out of the race.

Industry sources also link former RAB managing director Justin Sampson, who has recently left his role as director of customer relationship management at ITV; and Kathryn Jacob, former managing director of SMG Access and currently on maternity leave. Former OMD head of radio Jonathan Gillespie, who is working as a consultant on UK Music Week, is another potential candidate.

Industry insiders say Brown is better placed for the role because he has more experience of the political and lobbying side of the role, functions that it is thought will be increasingly important to the new organisation.