WEEI Names Rickard Brand Mgr; Laird APD
• Audacy Sports-Talk WEEI/Boston makes some programming moves, welcoming format veteran Jeff Rickard as Brand Manager and promoting Ken Laird from Executive Producer to Assistant Brand Manager.
Rickard (left) is inbound from Indianapolis, where he was most recently PD and morning show host at Emmis all-sports WFNI (93.5 & 107.5 The Fan). In his new role, Rickard will oversee content operations for WEEI-FM and the WEEI Radio Network, which spans the New England region. “Having worked in sports radio for virtually my entire career, I’m thrilled to join the team at WEEI,” said Rickard, who starts Aug. 11. “Its rich history is well documented as is the unmatched passion of the Boston sports fan. I’m looking forward to pairing this talented team with fresh, new ideas to both reflect and match that passion.”
Rickard previously spent nearly a decade in New England while hosting ESPN Radio’s Gamenight, and later as the managing editor and anchor of the Boston-based Out of Bounds Latenight on the Comcast Network. After a five-year stint programming KFNZ/Salt Lake City he went on to host The Jeff Rickard Show for Sporting News Radio. Rickard has served as the host of NFL Radio’s The Sunday Kickoff for the past five seasons and is the host of College Football Overtime on ESPNU.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Jeff to the team,” said Tim Clarke, SVP/Market Manager for Audacy Boston. “His deep expertise and experience in sports media plus his passion for our New England teams make him perfectly suited to lead one of America’s most legendary local sports brands.”
Ken Laird (right) broke into radio as an intern at WEEI in 2001. After graduating from Northeastern University in 2002, Laird moved to Pittsburgh and climbed the ladder at the former ESPN Radio 1250. In 2011, Laird joined the Pittsburgh Tribune Review as a reporter and daily web-radio host on TribLIVE Radio. He later returned to WEEI, working his way up to morning drive Executive Producer and update anchor.
“I’m thrilled to continue working with the Greg Hill Show while also partnering with Jeff Rickard,” Laird said. “Hopefully it will give me options should Greg come to his senses and kick me off of his show. A sincere thanks to Mark Hannon and Tim Clarke for the opportunity to grow my career with Audacy and WEEI, a brand I’m proud to represent.” Clarke added, “Ken is a supremely talented, up-and-coming programming leader and will have a huge impact on WEEI in this expanded role. I’m extremely optimistic and excited for WEEI’s continued evolution under the leadership of both Jeff and Ken.”
