Clyde boss tunes in to radio promotion

(Evening Times Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) RADIO Clyde boss Paul Cooney has been awarded a major new promotion.

The managing director of the Clydebank-based operation is set to become a regional managing director for parent group Emap.

He will now have responsibility for Radio Clyde, West Sound and South West Sound.

The move is part of Emap's restructuring of their radio division.

The company claims it "will give greater autonomy to the regions and encourage stronger bonds with local audiences and advertisers throughout the UK".

A delighted Mr Cooney said: "This is in recognition of the importance of local audiences, especially inScotland. Our great strength has always been the close bond between our stations, listeners and advertisers."

Mr Cooney, 49, has worked in commercial radio and television for more than 30 years.

He has held senior positions at Clyde, Capital Radio, Scottish Television and West Sound before returning to Clyde in 2000.

He has been voted Scotland's Broadcast Journalist of the Year and won several Sony awards.

He is also a trustee of the Cash for Kids Appeal and a director of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Independent News.

A spokesman for Emap outlined the new business strategy which will take effect from Monday.

"The company's Big City structure will be a business of seven clusters of local stations, each with a regional managing director.

"The three Scottish regions will be Scotland North, Scotland West and Scotland East."

Adam Findlay, managing director of Radio Forth, will be responsible for Scotland East, while Ally Ballingall, managing director of Radio Tay, will be responsible for Scotland North.

Copyright 2006 Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Source: Financial Times Information Limited