Emmis Promotes Rupe to Sr. Corporate Role
• UPDATED: Emmis Communications has added Chase Rupe to its senior leadership team as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development. In this new position Rupe will be responsible for investment sourcing and evaluation as Emmis seeks to reinvest the proceeds from its recent radio station sales.
In making the announcement of Rupe’s upgrade, Jeff Smulyan, Emmis Chairman and CEO said, “Chase has been one of our top performers for years and I’m thrilled he’s chosen to remain with Emmis as we embark on our next stage of growth. He’s a great addition to our leadership team and his drive and intellect are already making a huge difference as we source and evaluate deals.”
Rupe spent the past 12 years as SVP of Operations at Emmis Austin and previously served in leadership roles at iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media. He will remain based in Austin. The news of Rupe’s promotion comes on the heels of Wednesday’s announcement that Emmis has formally closed on the sale of its Austin cluster to its longtime Austin Radio partner, Sinclair Telecable. Your notes of congratulations can be sent directly to chase@emmis.com.
• Shortly after the Sinclair/Waterloo Media buy-out of Emmis Austin was completed, Pedro Escalera, a.k.a. “Pedro al aire,” exited as his position as PD and morning host on Bilingual Top 40 KLZT-HD2 (Latino 102.7) is eliminated.
Escalera (left) joined Emmis Austin in 2009 and was an integral part of the launch of both Spanish language brands, beginning with Regional Mexican KLZT (La Z 107.1). He began his career in Phoenix at then HBC-owned Regional Mexican KHOT-FM, followed by stops at Sun City Comm Bilingual Top 40 KVIB-FMand iHeartMedia Top 40 KZZP, along with a stint with Border Media in Austin.
Escalera has on-air experience in all dayparts as well as skills as a PD, APD/MD, production and imaging. He can be reached at pedro@pedroalaire.com and on all social media as @pedroalaire. [Photo: Karel & Robert Photography]
• Over on News-Talk KLBJ-AM, we understand that afternoon co-host Jeff Ward has also departed.
