Long time broadcaster and friend to the entire radio and television business Stu Olds passed away this weekend, 12/4/10. Stu had been ill with multiple myeloma.
Many know Stu as the CEO of Katz Media Group, the position he held since 2000. But to many in the broadcasting business he was first our friend and colleague.
Seems like forever Stu was at Katz, he moved up through the ranks and in 2000 earned the CEO stripes and moved the entire media rep firm into many new areas of the broadcasting and media business.
Respected for a number accomplishments with his Katz team, Stu was deeply committed to the broadcastings business as he was to his family.
He was nvolved with many organizations, including one of his favorites, which helped follow broadcasters in need: The Broadcasters Foundation of America.
We will all miss Stu Olds, the man with a continuous smile, a tough competitor and friend.
The RBR-TVBR staff and the broadcasting business feel the loss as we pass along our sympathy to Stu’s family and many friends.
In a corporate memo John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio expressed sympathy on the loss of Stu and stated that in keeping with the company’s ongoing structure, Katz Media Presidents will for the present report to Charlie Rahilly, Clear Channel President of National Advertiser Platforms. Moving forward, Hogan said, more details will be shared as appropriate.
To all Katz Media Group and Clear Channel Radio employees:
Today we have lost a special man and a great friend. Katz Media’s President and CEO Stu Olds died early this morning after a brave fight with Myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a type of leukemia. His wife Kim and their children were with him, and several colleagues had the privilege to have visited Stu and experience his indomitable spirit in these last weeks. He will be greatly missed.
Stu, who was 60, was named CEO of the Katz Media Group in 2000. He started in Katz’s Chicago office in 1977, and worked his way up to President of Katz Radio in 1987 and President of the Katz Radio Group in 1994. During his long career, Stu was a pillar of the radio community, and his list of contributions to our company and to the entire radio industry is long and exceptional. He served on many charitable foundations and industry organizations, and was honorary trustee of AWRT/Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, a board member of the RAB and the Bayliss Foundation, and served as Vice Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation board. Perhaps his greatest professional accomplishment was that he was respected by all who knew him and loved by those who worked with him.
Details on a memorial service and the family’s intentions regarding cards and contributions will be coming shortly. Clear Channel will be marking Stu’s passing in a special way, and we will tell you more once those plans are finalized.
At Katz Media, we will be reaching out to customers and partners – to share this news, to share our recollections of this special person and industry leader, and to let them know that as an organization we remain focused on their needs. In keeping with our ongoing structure, Katz Media Presidents will for the present report to Charlie Rahilly, Clear Channel President of National Advertiser Platforms. Moving forward, we’ll share more details as appropriate.
Please join me in pausing to remember our dear friend and a truly extraordinary man. – John Hogan
Jim Carnegie comment: I have known Stu for almost 30 years and over these years I remember him as a strong supporter of our business, but he was also one of the shrewdest business guys I’ve known.
He pulled off rebuilding a rep firm from what many knew a rep to be, reinventing it into a media firm.
Stu always made his point to your face, no gossip from this man, he was stand-up in my book. I for one will miss him on and off the golf course, but never forget him. I wish we had more men like Stu Olds in our business today.|
RBR-TVBR note: To express your sympathy and well wishes to Stu’s family please post your comments under the report.
