Radio broadcaster Audacy on Monday named Kelli Turner to the role of chief executive on a permanent basis, part of a broader shake-up of the company’s C-suite.
Turner has served as Audacy’s CEO on an interim basis following the departure of the company’s long time chief executive David Field in January. Turner has served on Audacy’s board of directors since last September, and previously worked as the Chief Financial Officer of the investment firm Sun Capital Partners. She has held board roles at Downtown Music Holdings and Central European Media Enterprises, among other companies.
Additionally, Audacy has appointed Chris Oliviero to serve as its Chief Business Officer and Bob Philips to the role of Chief Revenue Officer, effective immediately. Oliviero has worked for Audacy for more than two decades, joining the company after its predecessor, Entercom, merged with CBS Radio. He started with CBS as a production assistant on “The Howard Stern Show,” which aired on CBS-owned WXRK (92.3 FM) before moving to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006.
Likewise, Philips also has his roots in CBS Radio, joining the company in 1996 and later serving as its Chief Revenue Officer. Following the CBS-Entercom merger, Philips moved into the role of President of Audacy Networks and Multi-Market Sales, his most-recent position before this week’s promotion.
“On behalf of the Audacy board, we are delighted that Kelli Turner has agreed to take on the permanent President and CEO role and lead Audacy through its next phase of reinvention and growth,” Michael Del Nin, the Chairman of Audacy’s Board of Directors, said in a statement. “She is an exceptional media executive who, along with Chris Oliviero and the rest of the Audacy team, will ensure we continue to invest in high-quality content to engage our audiences and provide best-in-class solutions to our partners.”
“It’s a privilege to lead Audacy at this exciting moment in its impressive history and the evolution of audio,” said Turner. “This is one of the most dynamic businesses in media and entertainment, and I am looking forward to partnering with Chris Oliviero and all of our teams to build on our momentum with audiences, creators and advertisers. I’m especially excited by the appointments of Chris and Bob, who know Audacy’s businesses inside out and whose track records in management, programming and sales are second to none.”
While Audacy is promoting a number of executives, the company also announced a handful of C-level departures, including Chief Operating Officer Susan Larkin, Chief Digital Officer J.D. Crowley, Chief Marketing Officer Paul Suchman. Andrew Sutor, the company’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, will also be leaving the company following a period of transition, during which Mike Dash will take over in the Executive VP and General Counsel role. Dash has been with Audacy and its predecessor company for more than two decades, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The promotions and departures mark the latest shuffle involving Audacy, fresh from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, which effectively ended last year. Earlier this month, Audacy issued pink slips that saw between 100 and 300 on-air and behind-the-scenes workers lose their jobs.
