Clear Channel has shaken up its national sales operation. Former SVP/Sales for AOL’s Eastern U.S. Region Tim Castelli, who joined CC in March last month as EVP/Digital Sales, is now President/National Sales, Marketing and Partnerships. Leaving is 22-year CC vet Charlie Rahilly, who has served as President/National Ad Platforms since 2009.
Clear Channel’s new sales and marketing group aims to unify and align its marketing offerings under one umbrella, led by Castelli. The move is the latest in its transformation to a “fully integrated, multi-platform media and entertainment company.”
Castelli will oversee and ensure the close integration of the national sales and partnership operations for the key Clear Channel National Platform divisions, including Digital, Strategic Partnerships, Clear Channel Connections, Clear Channel Radio sales and Premiere Radio Networks sales. Castelli will report to John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
CC also named Condé Nast’s Holly Lang as SVP/Marketing Solutions, responsible for conceiving and implementing innovative marketing programs for national advertisers, with a special focus on consumer brands.
Chris Monteleone, formerly VP/Partner Strategy at Madison Square Garden, has been named SVP/Event Sponsorship Sales and Development. He’ll be responsible for working to help national marketers reach the audiences at Clear Channel’s national entertainment events, like the iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party: Fontainebleau Miami Beach and the historic iHeartRadio Music Festival as well as local events such as Z100’s Jingle Ball and KIIS FM’s Wango Tango.
Kevin Dorsey, previously President of Traffic, Navigation and Mobility, will expand his role and now oversee the operations of Katz Media Group and Premiere Radio Networks affiliate sales as President of National Media Groups.
Said Hogan: “With these moves, we will have a real dream team in place to create and execute uniquely powerful multi-platform solutions for our advertising partners. This is an entirely new way to leverage the unmatched national reach with local engagement capabilities of Clear Channel Radio Sales, Strategic Partnerships, Clear Channel Connections, Digital, event sponsorships and Premiere Radio Networks Sales supported by innovative programs and world class custom marketing insights.”
Details on the divisions Castelli will lead:
· Clear Channel Digital, which directs the implementation of the company’s digital strategy, including iHeartRadio, the Company’s industry-leading digital radio service. Castelli will soon name a head of Digital sales efforts for the company.
· Strategic Partnerships and Clear Channel Connections, led respectively by Michele Laven and Greg Glenday and focused on expanding alliances with key national distribution and content partners as well as creating and developing compelling integrated advertising and marketing campaigns across all of Clear Channel’s platforms using the company’s unique collection of media assets to develop comprehensive, integrated relationships with leading national advertisers.
· Clear Channel Radio Sales and Premiere Networks Sales which are respectively Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s dedicated national sales representation team and the dedicated network radio sales team with opportunities in 90 syndicated radio programs and services to more than 5,000 radio affiliates.
