Global Radio in talks with ex-News Group media head

Global Radio is in advanced talks with former News Group Newspapers media director Mark Chippendale about taking up the new role of group commercial director.

The radio company is understood to have had a number of discussions with Chippendale, who has previously worked at BSkyB and Yahoo!. He left News International in July (MW July 2).

It is not known who else has been approached for the role. Sources suggest Global is unlikely to formally announce any appointment without the approval of Stephen Miron, its incoming chief executive of radio.

The Mail on Sunday and Mail Online managing director Miron was announced to have taken the post in August this year, but he is yet to start officially. The group commercial director will report to him.

The role was created after Global’s plans to merge the GCap Media business it acquired for £375m with its existing operations, were given the go-ahead in August, providing it divested several Midlands radio stations.

Chippendale left News International after failing to get the top job of the newly created trading director’s role overseeing NGN and Times Media. His departure was part of a major restructure within the publishing company, led by chief executive and chairman of News Corporation Europe, James Murdoch.

Chippendale began his career at Granada before moving to Thames TV as group manager. He became sales director at BSkyB in 2003, leaving two years later to join Yahoo! as European vice-president of sales. He joined NGN as media director in 2006.