Virgin Radio names non-executive chairman

Virgin Radio has appointed Chrysalis Group chief executive Richard Huntingford as non-executive chairman as the SMG-owned radio station gears up for an expected flotation later this year.

Virgin Radio has appointed Chrysalis Group chief executive Richard Huntingford (pictured) as non-executive chairman as the SMG-owned radio station gears up for an expected flotation later this year.

Huntingford, who steps down from Chrysalis this autumn, will take up his role from September 1 and will be joined on the executive board by former Ladbrokes group finance director Rosemary Thorne, who has been appointed as senior independent director.

Huntingford joined Chrysalis in 1987 as corporate development director before becoming chief executive of Chrysalis Radio in 1994. He was promoted to group chief executive in 2000. The former accountant was also a non-executive director of Virgin Mobile until its acquisition by NTL last year.

The radio audience figures for the second quarter of 2007 saw the station increase its reach from 2.45m to 2.53m, its highest for three years.