iHeartMedia announced that Keith Bratel has been named market president for the Madison, Wis., market, and Darci Ewell was named senior vice president of sales for the San Antonio and Austin, Texas, region, while Curtiss Johnson was named senior vice president of programming for Sacramento, Calif. Also, the company announced that Zack Massey was named country content bureau chief for its Nashville, Tenn., iHeartCountry team.
According to the announcement, Bratel will be responsible for overseeing the Madison market’s operation across its platforms. Bratel will work closely with advertising and marketing partners to create and deliver opportunities to reach their consumers.
“We are excited that Keith has accepted the opportunity to lead our great team in Madison,” said Jeff Tyler, president of the western Great Lakes region. “Keith has previously been with our company and brings a wealth of experience and strong leadership to the position.”
Bratel said he feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work beside many dedicated professionals. “I look forward to putting my 25 plus years of radio experience to work for iHeartMedia in this vibrant, exciting community,” he said.
In the San Antonio and Austin region, Darci Ewell is the new senior vice president of sales bringing more than 20 years of media experience to the position. She started her media career with KXAS(TV)/NBC5 in Ft. Worth, Texas, before transitioning into radio sales as an account executive for the ABC Radio Group in Dallas. Ewell’s experience also includes sales management positions with Zimmer Radio Group, Citadel Broadcasting and Cumulus Media. She joined iHeartMedia in Colorado Springs/Pueblo in January 2014 as vice president of sales, and most recently served as market president.
“It’s such an exciting opportunity to head back to Texas to my media roots to work alongside such an amazing leader as Breeanna Malik, who I started my radio career with, and with the incredible resources and power of iHeartMedia,” said Ewell.
In Sacramento, Curtiss Johnson said he was excited and honored by his appointment. “iHeartMedia has a tremendous portfolio of legendary media brands and talent in the Sacramento market,” he said.
“I’m thrilled to bring Curtiss Johnson back to Sacramento as our senior VP of programming,” said Sara McClure, market president for iHeartMedia Sacramento. “Curtiss’ experience and relationships in Sacramento are perfectly suited for our programming and client needs.”
According to the announcement, Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in radio and media, and most recently served as program director of WDRV(FM)/97.1 The Drive in Chicago. He began his radio career at KPRI(FM), in his hometown of San Diego, and served over a decade as program director and afternoon drive on-air personality at KUPD(FM) in Phoenix. During his career, he has served as station manager, program director, along with winning a Marconi Radio Award and a Crystal Radio Award, among other honors.
In the newly created position of country content bureau chief, Zack Massey will oversee the digital content bureau for iHeartMedia’s country music format stations, which will produce content for iHeartCountry.com and iHeartMedia’s more than 140 country music radio station websites.
“The iHeartCountry team couldn’t be more excited to have him join us in Nashville to lead our digital and social platforms,” said Rod Phillips, senior vice president of programming and brand manager of iHeartCountry.
The new country content bureau chief said iHeartMedia has the best assets of any media and entertainment company in the game. “Having the opportunity to return to Nashville and help generate country content for our entire iHeartRadio network is my dream job,” he said.
Massey has 10 years of experience with iHeartMedia, most recently serving as a digital content director in the Phoenix market. He joined the company in 2006 as an online director and sales manager in their Asheville, N.C., office. Massey has also served as a general sales manager and digital sales manager for iHeartMedia’s Nashville market.
