In L.A., A New Day For iHeartMedia

Updated at 11am Pacific

LOS ANGELES 1 Amid industry-wide conversations regarding a significant reduction-in-force initiative at iHeartMedia, “key leadership promotions” have come to the company’s Los Angeles radio stations. At the same time, two veteran programmers — husband and wife — are departing.

What does this mean for a group of properties comprised of KEIB “The Patriot AM 1150,” KFI-AM, KRRL “Real 92.3,” KBIG “104.3 MyFM,” KIIS-FM, KOST-FM, KLAC-AM, and KYSR “ALT 98.7”?

First, 26-year company veteran Jeff Thomas has risen to EVP of Sales and Business Development for Los Angeles. He will continue to lead sales in addition to now overseeing iHeartMedia Los Angeles’ Local News Talk Endorsement Network and iHeartCX, iHeart’s retail in-store radio network. He reports directly to Paul Corvino, Division President for iHeartMedia.

Thomas has been leading the sales team for iHeartMedia/Los Angeles for 17 years. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead two additional growth areas for iHeart while continuing my leadership role within the market,” he said. “With Adam and our veteran sales leadership team at the helm, I expect to provide even more innovation and high-level service for our advertisers. Adam is a true people leader and has the forward-thinking mindset to grow our business and build success for marketers.”

Second, Adam Wolfson has been elevated to SVP of Sales for the group of stations, perhaps the most important for the entire publicly traded company, from a billing perspective. Wolfson has been with iHeart’s L.A. stations for four years and has more than 15 years of industry experience. This includes past leadership positions with Audacy Inc. and with Cox Media Group in markets such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.

Wolfson will work closely with Thomas to help key advertising and marketing partners reach their consumers through iHeartMedia’s properties in Southern California.

“We’ve seamlessly linked the top News-Talk hosts in the country into one easy-to-buy network, offering network scale in local markets,” Corvino said. “In addition, iHeart CX gives retailers best-in-class music programming along with ad campaigns that will make their in-store media budgets even more efficient. Jeff has an impressive track record in the LA market, and I can’t think of a better person to lead this effort and create new revenue opportunities.”

Third, 30-year company veteran Tracy Barrios rises from VP/Sales Operations to  SVP of Operations for Los Angeles; and Julie Martzke earns a promotion to Sr. VP of National and Event Sales for Los Angeles. Martzke has been associated with iHeartMedia for 14 years, with many of those years focused on KIIS, KOST and KBIG.

Meanwhile, iHeartMedia chose not to distribute via a press release information shared in an internal e-mail written by Corvino in which team members have been told Robin Bertolucci and her husband and colleague, Don Martin, have resigned from their local market roles after some 25 years in the station group.

Bertolucci has been associated with Talker KFI-AM 640 in Los Angeles for decades. Martin is Exec. VP of Programming for iHeartMedia Sports and is PD for KLAC, branded as “AM 570 L.A. Sports.” RBR+TVBR has confirmed that Martin will remain in his Fox Sports Radio/Premiere Networks EVP role.

In the e-mail, which was independently confirmed by an iHeartMedia spokesperson after it was first shared by Radio and Music Pros, Corvino wrote, “It is with immense respect and gratitude that I share that after two decades of hard work, dedication, creativity and leadership at iHeartMedia Los Angeles, Robin Bertolucci and Don Martin will be leaving their positions at KFI and KLAC.”

Chris Berry, iHeartMedia EVP of News will assume interim PD duties for both KFI and KLAC. In closing, Corvino said, “I know you all will join me in thanking Don and Robin for the immeasurable impact they have had on iHeartMedia Los Angeles throughout the years.”