iHeartMedia has announced a number of personnel changes on both the national and local market level. First, the company named Chuck Deskins Jr., to senior vice president of inside sales. iHeart also added to Executive Vice President of Global Music Marketing Alissa Pollack’s responsibilities. In South Carolina, Charleston named Pete Norden senior vice president of sales; Raleigh’s WRDU tapped Joe Johnson as PD and afternoon drive on-air personality; and Maria Palmer has been chosen as music director for iHeart Charlotte and on-air host for WEND(FM). Finally, Vladimir “DJ Loui Vee” Scott has been named PD for WZRL(FM) Indianapolis and WTFX(FM) Louisville.
Deskins is based in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will report to iHeart Executive Vice President of Inside Sales James Donovan. He has three decades’ sales experience, most recently working as a partner at C3 Media advertising agency.
He began his career as an account executive for Jacor Broadcasting in Cincinnati and moved to their Tampa market in 1992 and was named director of sales for the market after it was acquired by iHeart. He remained there for 14 years, until he was named market president and general manager for the Atlanta market in 2006. Two years later, he moved to Miami as the director of sales until 2009, moving back to Tampa and working as VP of sales until 2014. He also worked as owner/publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine and as a partner at Advantage Marketing advertising agency.
Pollack has worked for iHeartMedia and its predecessor Clear Channel for 24 years. She will now help craft music strategies, collaborating with brand managers and the national programming team. She will also retain her current duties and oversight of Mediabase, M-Score, RatetheMusic and BuzzAngle Music.
Norden will report to iHeart Charleston Area President Alene Grevey. He’s also been with iHeart for more than 24 years. He most recently was SVP of sales for the Tampa market and also served as market president for iHeartMedia Sarasota, N.Y. He began his radio career in 1989 at Destin, Fla.’s WWAV(FM).
iHeartMedia Charleston owns and operates WEZL, WXLY, WRFQ and WSCC.
Johnson will report to iHeart Raleigh/Greensboro Area Senior Vice President of Programming Chris Edge in his new role. He joins iHeart Raleigh from WROV Roanoke-Lynchburg, Va., where he served as the PD and afternoon drive personality for the past seven years. He began his career at Florida’s WXTB(FM).
iHeartMedia Raleigh owns and operates WDCG, WRDU, WTKK, WNCB and WDCG(HD2).
In her new role, Palmer will report to iHeartMedia Charlotte Program Director Chuck “DZL”Thompson. She joins the Charlotte market from Washington, where she began her radio career as the swing shift, fill-in and weekend talent on WWDC and WMZQ.
iHeart Charlotte owns and operates WEND, WKKT, WRFX, WHQC, WLKO and WRFX(HD2).
Scott will be responsible for overseeing programming and promotions for WZRL and WTFX. He will report to iHeart Indianapolis Senior Vice President of Programming Mike Killabrew. He joins the market from iHeart Columbia, S.C., where he served as assistant PD.
iHeart Indianapolis owns and operates WFBQ(FM), WOLT(FM), WZRL(FM) and WNDE(AM).
