Kurdziel Ready To (Regionally) Rock!

• Cumulus Media has promoted Rock programming pro Jim Kurdziel to the lofty new position of Regional Vice President, Programming — Rock, overseeing the Rock and Alternative formats for the company’s stations in the Northeastern U.S. — Buffalo, NY; Syracuse, NY; Harrisburg, PA; Wilkes-Barre, PA; Saginaw, MI; New Orleans and Appleton, WI. The good news is, Kurdziel will hang on to his existing gig as PD and midday personality for Alternative WEDG (103.3 The Edge)/Buffalo.

In making the announcement, Mike McVay, EVP, Content & Programming, Cumulus Media, said, “Jim has shown his ability to program successfully. His track record speaks for itself. We’re excited to expand his role and take advantage of his success and experience.” McVay then handed the mic over to Troy Hanson, Cumulus VP of Programming, Rock, who said, “We are incredibly proud of Jim for this well-deserved promotion. He is a natural leader. It is a true recognition of his skills, talents and commitment to excellence… and that’s just his hair.”

Surveying his expansive new domain, Kurdziel commented, “It’s hard for me to put into words how much this means to me. To have Mike McVay, John Dimick and Doug Hamand believe in me is humbling and I don’t know what I can say about Troy (that he won’t make fun of me for saying). He doesn’t like getting credit or attention, but to put it simply, he’s made a lot of lives and careers better, especially mine. To continue my career with Cumulus is my passion because Mike is leading us to new heights and it’s so much fun to follow him. Working with true mentors like Ralph Cipolla, Keith Cunningham, Derek Madden, Val Garris and so many others is a privilege. That I can continue in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, with Steve Bearance leading our amazing team is a really wonderful perk — a very cold perk, but a perk, nonetheless.”