Brian Lakamp Darren Davis Split - H 2014
Courtesy of Clear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel’s Brian Lakamp was promoted to president of technology and digital ventures from his previous role as vp digital media overseeing iHeartRadio. The move is part of the company’s overall goal to expand into consumer-driven digital technology.
Lakamp will oversee all of Clear Channel’s digital strategy, including successful Web platform iHeartRadio, reporting to Bob Pittman, the company’s chairman and CEO.
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“Looking across Clear Channel’s diverse set of media businesses and its unparalleled reach, there are massive opportunities to utilize emerging technologies to unlock business value and offer unmatched possibilities for our advertisers, our audiences and ourselves around analytics, programmatic buying of targeted audiences, and beyond,” said Lakamp.
“Our corporate focus on digital, increasingly leveraging technology to maximize our business, reflects the natural evolution of Clear Channel into a 21st century media company,” added Pittman. “Creativity is also enabled by technology, and as advertisers’ interest in new and emerging technology options continues to grow, we intend to remain at the forefront of both innovation and creativity. Brian is perfectly positioned to help us — and our consumers, advertisers and content partners — as we continue to build Clear Channel’s digital roadmap for the future.”
As a part of this restructuring, iHeartRadio will become a part of Clear Channel Networks Group, reporting to the company’s president, Darren Davis, rather than Lakamp.
Davis will now be responsible for the entire business of iHeartRadio, as well as Premiere Networks, the radio industry’s leading network group; Total Traffic and Weather Network; and the 24/7 News Network.
iHeartRadio is the company’s music recommender system that aggregates data from Clear Channel’s 800 local radio stations as well as other media. Launched in 2008, the venture just reached a 50-million-user milestone last month, which is faster than any other digital music service to date.
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“I look forward to working with the immensely talented iHeartRadio team to build on the tremendous success of iHeartRadio by utilizing the full promotional and creative power of Clear Channel for iHeartRadio Networks,“ said Davis. “I’m excited to continue my collaboration with Brian in his new role to leverage new opportunities and maximize emerging technologies across Clear Channel’s national platforms and services.”
Email: marion.kirkpatrick@pgmedia.org
Twitter: @mrnkrkptrck
