MUMBAI: Chris Lawson, digital marketing director at Bauer Consumer Media, has been roped in as brand director at Virgin Radio, responsible for developing the station’s marketing strategy and its digital business.
The rock music station will be relaunched under a new name this autumn after its ?53m sale to Times of India subsidiary TIML and UK-based radio owner and consultancy Absolute Radio. Virgin Radio was previously owned by SMG, says a report in the Guardian.
Lawson’s appointment is part of an internal reorganisation at the station that will see the departure of the programming and marketing director, David Lloyd, and the digital media director, Andy Grumbridge.
In a newly created role, Lawson will report to the station’s chief operating officer, Clive Dickens.
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“In Chris, we’ve found not only a highly experienced media marketeer but also someone who really understands the power and potential of new channels and the opportunities for our audience and our business partners,” says Dickens.
The broadcaster is planning an expansion of its brand across all digital media including mobile, TV and the web, as well as areas such as music downloads, social networking, branded ticketing, subscription and personalised radio, says the report.
Lawson’s background is in branding rather than radio, having overseen more than 30 individual brands within the Bauer – previously Emap – portfolio including heatworld.com, FHM.com and Kerrang.com.
Lawson’s departure date from Bauer is still being negotiated. He was previously head of customer relationship management for Emap Consumer Media.
