GMG Radio launches in-house S&P team

Guardian Media Group Radio (GMG) has poached OMD UK head of radio John Walker to lead a newly launched in-house sponsorship and promotions (S&P) team. He will join the company in early spring.

GMG Solutions, which will have an eight strong team, will focus on developing new S&P opportunities across the group’s 13 stations, which includes the Smooth, Real, Century and Rock Radio brands. Walker will be responsible for strategic development of the team as well as building commercial partnerships.

The changes will see GMG’s current head of group S&P, Henrietta Prosser, become national head of S&P. She will manage the team on a day-to-day basis. The team will report to GMG group sales director, Julian Carter.

GMG’s decision to take S&P in-house follows its decision to move its national sales contract from Global Radio, formerly Chrysalis Radio, to GCap Media from January 1.

Walker says: “GMG Radio Solutions’ vision is to create a team that gives customers clarity and creativity in their non-spot strategies and our experience in commercial radio will help us achieve that goal.”