Siobhan Kenny has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of RadioCentre, the trade body representing commercial radio in the UK. Kenny will replace interim CEO Linda Smith from 31 March 2014. She joins with the brief to “reinvigorate RadioCentre, to redefine its purpose in a consolidating industry, and to help shape the future of commercial radio”.
Kenny joins RadioCentre from six years as Group Director at publishing firm HarperCollins and a spell as VP of Communications at Walt Disney. She has significant experience of Government, having worked in the No 10 Press Office under John Major and Tony Blair, and as a Board member and Director of Strategy and Communications at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport during Tessa Jowell’s tenure.
Kenny said of her appointment: “If I could have designed my perfect job, it would have looked a lot like being CEO of RadioCentre. Radio is a terrific, thriving sector and consumers tend to have a very strong emotional connection with their favourite stations.” She continued: “There will inevitably be challenges, which means there is plenty to do. I have been more than impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the leaders in this industry and I can’t wait to get started.”
Stephen Miron, CEO of Global Radio, added: “To attract someone of Siobhan’s calibre to the commercial radio sector is testament to the current strength of the industry. Siobhan brings a whole new perspective from a strong leadership background in politics, media and communications which will prove invaluable as we look to build and evolve the sector over the next few years connecting our distinctive brands with existing and new audiences.”