Updated at 7:55am Pacific
Since 2002, the “Unified Partnerships” division of iHeartMedia has provided “advanced media resources” for its advertising agency partners, including helping agencies win new advertising clients, retention of their most important relationships, and the ability to earn greater yield.
Late Wednesday, a new VP for the arm’s California segment was named, and it is the woman who has been overseeing the Sacramento station group for iHeartMedia.
Sara McClure has been named Vice President of Unified Partnerships for California at iHeartMedia, a move that results in the role of Market President for Sacramento being filled by Steve Darnell.
Darnell reports to DJ Hodge, Division President for iHeartMedia.
“After many years of successful leadership in our Pacific Area, it was clear early-on that Steve was the perfect candidate to lead our Sacramento Market as Metro President,” Hodge said. “Steve is the ideal choice to continue the great work done by Sara McClure.”
Darnell most recently served as the Area President for iHeartMedia’s Pacific Area. He also served as the Market President for iHeartMedia’s Fresno Market, as well as Fresno’s Senior Vice President of Sales.
McClure has been associated with iHeart’s Sacramento stations since 2013, when she became SVP of Sales. The market veteran became an Account Executive with CBS Radio in 1996, and in 1998 joined Audacy Inc., then-known as Entercom. In 2003, she took on General Sales Manager duties for Entercom/Sacramento, rising to Director of Business Development in 2007 and Director of Sales in September 2010.
The iHeartMedia/Sacramento cluster is comprised of News/Talk KFBK Radio, Adult Contemporary KBEB “92.5 The Breeze,” “Throwback”-focused KHYL “V101.1”, Classic Rock KYRV “93.7 The River,” Millennial Classic Hits KZIS “Kiss 107.9,” and Talk KSTE-AM 650.
