This item has been updated to add Pat Walsh as a newly elected director; he was omitted from the original RAB announcement.
The lead industry organization promoting U.S. commercial radio advertising has a new leader of the board. Hartley Adkins of iHeartMedia succeeds Bud Walters at the helm of the Radio Advertising Bureau board of directors.
He is executive vice president of major markets for iHeartMedia, formerly Clear Channel; Adkins was elected chairman of the RAB board this month after having served as vice chair.
Adkins, right, began his broadcasting career in Tampa, Fla., according to his LinkedIn profile, and has managed some 75 radio markets in recent years. He lists as specialties “an in-depth understanding of consumer psychology and how to use digital/social/mobile media, broadcast media and event marketing to introduce advertiser and listener for a mutually beneficial result.”
CEO/President Erica Farber thanked Bud Walters “for his guidance, leadership and service over these last two years.” Walters is founder and president of the Cromwell Group. His predecessor as chair was Scott Herman.
Ginny Morris, chair and CEO of Hubbard Radio, was elected RAB vice chair at the meeting in Baltimore this month. Kim Guthrie, EVP Radio for Cox Media Group, is finance chair. Steve Newberry, president and CEO of Commonwealth Broadcasting, becomes RAB secretary.
Newly elected directors are Drew Horowitz, president/COO of Hubbard Radio; Bill McElveen, EVP, Southern Region, for Alpha Media; Steve Wexler, EVP of Journal Broadcast Group; and Pat Walsh, COO and CFO, Emmis Communications.
