Dan Mason finally gets to do some play by play for college basketball games.
“After an unforgettable eight years leading CBS Radio, I am announcing today my retirement at the end of April,” he announced. Mason, right, is its president/CEO.
The company has named Andre J. Fernandez (below, left) to the title of president of the division, which includes 117 stations in 26 markets as well as various digital assets. Fernandez is former president/CEO of Journal Communications. CBS President/CEO Leslie Moonves said Fernandez “has had great success working in large and mid-sized markets, which has primed him to lead our major market operations.”
Mason wrote in an email to employees: “Witnessing all that we’ve accomplished and knowing the bright future ahead for our company has not made this an easy decision.” He noted his “passion and love” for the radio industry, and mentioned company initiatives including new music formats, sports on FM and online initiatives Radio.com and Play.it, the on-demand podcast network.
“However, as much fun as I’ve had, it’s now time to ‘pivot’ in my personal life. With four kids either grown, out of the house or on their way to college, I would like to do some ‘retirement’ type things like leisure travel and spending more time doing my favorite hobbies.” He said he’ll continue with CBS Radio on a consulting basis and do work for the Broadcasters Foundation.
“Finally, this fall I will be doing play-by-play for select college basketball games, a passion I followed early in my career. I guess you never get rid of the disc jockey blood you’re born with.” A CBS spokeswoman said details of his play-by-play plans were not immediately available.
This was Mason’s second stint at the company. He was president of CBS Radio from 1995 to 2002, during which time it integrated CBS, Group W, Infinity Radio and American Radio Systems stations. He later was an advisor to CBS, other broadcasters and iBiquity Digital, along with partner Walter Sabo in a consultancy.
In 2007, he replaced CEO Joel Hollander.
Fernandez held several executive positions at Journal including COO and CFO. He held several leadership positions with General Electric, and was SVP/CFO of its Telemundo operation. Before that he was CFO and controller of GE Latin America; CFO of GE’s Digital Energy business; Assistant Treasurer of GE Corporate Treasury and CFO of GE Capital Information Technology Solutions (ITS), based in Brazil. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
