Thomas & Wheeler Upped At Cumulus Detroit

• Cumulus Media Detroit announces dual promotions: Ann Thomas is elevated from APD/Executive Producer to Program Director of legendary News-Talk WJR 760AM — the first female PD in WJR’s 101-year history, while current WJR PD Mike Wheeler is promoted to Operations Manager of Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor.

Thomas’s four-decade broadcasting career has all been spent at WJR, starting as an intern in 1982. She was subsequently hired full-time as Producer of The Other Side of the News. Thomas went on to become a WJR news reporter and anchor, winning several awards. In 1999, she was named Executive Producer of the Paul W. Smith Show, earning multiple “Best Morning Show” awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, including in 2022 and 2023. Thomas also produced the WJR-MSU tailgate shows from 2006-2021. Thomas has also hosted several WJR shows over the years, including The Healthy Woman Show, Opportunity Detroit, The WJR Gardening Show, and Women Who Lead, which Thomas launched 11 years ago to highlight Michigan women from all walks of life doing great things in the community. In 2019, Thomas was inducted into the Michigan Business Women’s Hall of Fame.

Thomas commented, “I am deeply honored to be promoted to WJR Program Director. WJR is THE ‘Great Voice of the Great Lakes,’ and I’m looking forward to serving our audience in any way I can.”

In his newly created position, Wheeler will manage operations for Cumulus Media’s four Detroit stations and four Ann Arbor stations. A Detroit native, Wheeler’s deep broadcasting experience includes more than 20 years in regional roles with Clear Channel/iHeartMedia in Toledo, OH; St. Louis, Atlanta, and Hartford/New Haven, CT.

Steve Finateri, RVP/Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit-Ann Arbor, said, “Ann Thomas is the heart and soul of WJR and has been deserving of this move for a very long time. Her fingerprints are already all over this heritage, award-winning radio station, but we are all excited to see what the future holds with Ann in the driver’s seat!” Commenting on Wheeler’s enhanced role, Finateri added, “In his new role as Operations Manager, Cumulus Detroit-Ann Arbor, Mike Wheeler will share a wealth of experience from his incredible career to help lever the resources we have in Detroit and enable WWWW-FM, WTKA-AM, WKQL-FM and WLBY-AM/Ann Arbor to reach new heights.”