The Times poaches Classic FM sales chief

Times Newspapers has appointed Simon Redican, head of sales for Classic FM at GCap Media, as director of strategy and business development.

It is understood that Redican, who was also responsible for the group’s digital brands and cross-selling platform RSVP, will be responsible for developing marketing and business strategy for The Times and The Sunday Times. It is not clear when Redican is due to take over his new role but it is thought to be imminent.

Redican joined Opus, the GWR Group sales house from agency MediaVest (now Starcom MediaVest) in 2003. He joined in the new role of head of media partnerships at Classic FM with a brief to boost agency relationships and cross-platform sales.

Following the merger of GWR with Capital Radio Group in May this year (creating GCap), Redican was appointed head of Classic FM, digital brands and RSVP. His departure comes just months after GCap head of agency sales Nick Hewat left the company. He was poached by Virgin Radio.

It is understood that Redican will be replaced and industry insiders have tipped Karen Eccles, who is group head of Classic FM and digital brands and has worked closely with Redican.

Redican joined MediaVest in 1995 and rose through the ranks to become head of media planning, with a place on the board, in 2000.