Connoisseur Makes West Coast Moves

• Following this week’s frequency expansion of 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country)/San Jose, Connoisseur Media has announced several programming leadership changes across its West Coast radio stations:

• Brian “Fig” Figula (left) has been named Regional Operations Manager for the Bay Area, overseeing Connoisseur Media’s stations in San Jose, San Francisco and the East Bay. Figula will continue serving as Operations Manager for the San Francisco cluster while assuming day-to-day programming responsibilities for KEZR (Mix 106.5) and 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country). He will continue to program heritage AC 96.5 KOIT/San Francisco, while relinquishing Urban AC 102.9 KBLX/San Francisco and Classic Rock KUFX (K-FOX).

Chris Jackson joins Mix 106.5 as the station’s new midday talent following the transition of KUFX to K-FOX, which will continue as a digital-only Classic Rock brand on HD2 and online.

“These changes allow us to align our programming leadership with the continued growth of our West Coast brands,” said Figula. “We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented team, and this structure gives each market experienced local leadership while creating new opportunities for collaboration across the region.”

• “Jazzy Jim” Archer (center) expands his programming responsibilities, taking over day-to-day programming duties for Urban AC 102.9 KBLX/San Francisco as well as Top 40 KBFF (Live 95.5)/Portland. Archer will continue to program Top 40 KMVQ (99.7 NOW)/San Francisco.

• In Portland, Operations Manager Ross MacLeod (right) adds Country KUPL (98.7 The Bull) to his programming portfolio while continuing to oversee Triple A 101.9 KINK-FM and Active Rock 102.9 KUFO-FM. Jamie Tanchyk moves from middays on 98.7 The Bull to afternoons on Live 95.5, as Bay Country’s Emily Harlan adds middays on 98.7 The Bull.

“The changes we made today in San Francisco, San Jose, and Portland better position us for continued success,” said Keith Dakin, SVP Programming for Connoisseur Media. “I have tremendous confidence in Fig, Jazzy, and Ross. They are talented programmers who understand their markets, know how to put the right people in the right positions, and have a proven ability to work with talent to create programming that is relevant, engaging, and locally connected. I’m excited to see what they’ll accomplish as they continue to strengthen our brands in highly competitive markets.”