CMG Resets Market Management
• Cox Media Group (CMG) has tapped a crop of seasoned broadcast execs to take on senior leadership roles in seven CMG markets — Boston: With Tom Raponi‘s upcoming retirement, Joe Pomilla will lead CMG Boston as VP/GM of WFXT-TV. Pomilla (left) is a 30-year broadcasting vet, who was most recently VP/GM of CMG Charlotte. • Charlotte: Cedric Thomas succeeds Pomilla as VP/GM for WSOC and WAXN-TV. Most recently, Thomas (second from left) was Director of Sales for CMG Pittsburgh. • Memphis: Susan Connor is named VP/GM of WHBQ-TV/Memphis. Connor is a 33-year TV vet who was previously Creative Services Director at KIRO-TV/Seattle and Station Manager at KOB-TV/Albuquerque, NM. Connor (second from right) succeeds Paul Briggs, who was recently named CMG Atlanta’s new VP of Content and Broadcast Operations. • Orlando: In this newly integrated market, Jason Meder has been promoted to GM of CMG Orlando, reporting to Market VP Paul Curran. Feder (right) spent the past 16 years with CMG Tampa Radio, most recently as Director of Sales.
• Pittsburgh: Kevin Hayes returns to CMG as GM of WPXI-TV/Pittsburgh. From 2010 to 2013, Hayes was VP/GM of WJAC-TV/Johnstown, PA, previously owned by CMG. He was most recently GM of Sinclair’s KFOX-TV and CBS4 in El Paso, TX. • Jacksonville: Market VP Dan Lawrie has named Bob Longo to work with him on the market’s integration strategy as CMG Jacksonville’s new General Manager. Longo, whose career began in radio, was most recently News Director of WFOX and WJAX-TV/Jacksonville. He previously spent five years as News Director at WESH/Orlando and 10 years as News Director at WTAE/Pittsburgh. • Miami: Regional VP Rob Babin has upped Ralph Renzi to GM of CMG Miami Radio. Renzi was most recently the Director of Sales for Miami Radio and he was previously part of the sales management team at WTOP/Washington.
“I’m pleased that we have proven leadership talent at Cox Media Group to fill these critical positions,” said CMG President Kim Guthrie. “We have the best media professionals in the business. Our entire team of proven leaders will take CMG into the future and position us for continued growth and success.”
