88Nine Names New Executive Director
• Award-winning entertainment management veteran Kevin Sucher has been tapped as the new Executive Director of non-comm WYMS (88Nine Radio Milwaukee)/Milwaukee. In his new position, Sucher will be responsible for management of the station and leading the organization. To ensure a smooth change in leadership, Sucher has already started this week in an overlapped transition period with outgoing Executive Director Glenn Kleiman, who last October announced he would step down in spring 2020, after four years in the role.
A Milwaukee native, Sucher has more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry — he has run his own Milwaukee-based management, production and consulting agency, Sucher Entertainment, since 2008. In 2012, Sucher was named President/CEO of Truth Records, a Houston-based artist management company, with a music publishing arm and record label. Sucher has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards and was an un-credited executive producer on the Oscar-winning movie Dallas Buyers Club. In his spare time Sucher leads the local yacht rock band, “The Docksiders.”
“While rooted in Milwaukee, Kevin brings connections and innovative ideas drawn from his national music industry experience,” said Radio Milwaukee Board President Juli Kaufmann. “He is an inclusive leader who brings fresh perspective to enhance our already exceptional team. We are thrilled to advance our mission under Kevin’s leadership.”
Sucher says he’s honored for the opportunity to lead 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, even as the community and station face major challenges because of COVID-19. “We’re finding that 88Nine’s unique programming, including changes we’ve made to respond to the situation, is providing comfort to Milwaukee residents sheltering at home,” Sucher said, adding, “The organization’s commitment — especially at this critical time — to creating a more inclusive and engaged Milwaukee by connecting us through music is something I’m incredibly passionate about.”
