IN a sudden succession, the head of Virgin Radio – which is owned by stv owner, SMG – has resigned from the post, prompting the immediate promotion of the station’s programme director.
Paul Jackson takes over from Fru Hazlett as Virgin Radio chief executive, a position he held in an acting capacity for a few months until Hazlett’s appointment, in August two years ago, from internet folk, Yahoo!.
She had been managing director of Yahoo! UK and Ireland.
Jackson has been Virgin Radio’s programme director for the last six years, prior to which he was regional programme director for Capital Radio. According to SMG, since joining Virgin, he has “revamped the station’s music policy and programme line-up and was responsible for attracting big-name presenters such as Christian O’Connell and Suggs to the station”.
Commenting on the change at the top, Donald Emslie, acting chief executive of SMG, said: “I’m sorry to see Fru go. She’s been an inspirational leader for Virgin Radio and her knowledge of the radio and online world has taken the station to the next level. This has provided Paul Jackson with a very strong platform from which to continue to develop the station.”
