His fate at Audacy Inc. has been the subject of chatter and speculation for weeks. Now, it is official: Doug Abernethy is leaving the audio content creation and distribution company with majority ownership held today by Soros Fund Management.
RBR+TVBR has confirmed that Abernethy, a 10-year veteran of the company originally known as Entercom, shared an internal note with Audacy staff informing them of his departure from the company.
It is not known if Abernethy’s exit is voluntary or part of a major shake-up announced March 17 that saw Susan Larkin depart as Chief Operating Officer as Chief Digital Officer J.D. Crowley and Chief Marketing Officer Paul Suchman also exited the company. Executive Vice President/General Counsel Andrew Sutor also shared that he will vacate his role in the coming weeks.
For Abernethy, his final day at Audacy is scheduled for May 9.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside you during the past ten-plus years with the company, and for some, my 36 years in the industry,” Abernethy wrote. “Each market, team and person I have had the pleasure to work with has made a lasting impression on me. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and confident in your continued success.”
Additional communications regarding “market reassignments and customer relationships” are forthcoming, Abernethy said.
Abernethy joined the company to lead its Miami-Fort Lauderdale station group in March 2015, becoming a regional VP in March 2021 some 3 years after relocating to Austin, Texas, from South Florida. It was a return to the Lone Star State for Abernethy, who was Regional VP for Urban One from October 2004, overseeing its Dallas and Houston stations.
Circa March 2003, Abernethy was Director of Sales for Cox Media Group’s Houston radio properties.
