Connoisseur Ups Oliviera & Boyd; Adds Bridges
• Connoisseur Media announced a pair of leadership promotions and a major programming appointment designed to strengthen operations and growth across its Connecticut and Long Island markets — Ed Oliveira has been elevated to Operations Manager, Connecticut; Meghan Boyd, currently Director of Digital & Design for Connecticut, will expand her role to also oversee the Long Island portfolio; and Connoisseur welcomes veteran programmer and personality Robby Bridges as Program Director and midday personality for Country WWWF (103.1 The Wolf)/Long Island and PD of AC WEBE 108/Bridgeport, CT.
Oliveira (above, right, with SVPP Keith Dakin), who most recently served as Director of Traffic & Creative Services for Connecticut, has been with Connoisseur Media for more than a decade. Oliviera started in the promotions department at Cox Media in Richmond, VA eventually rising to mornings on Alternative WDYL. He and Dakin are longtime colleagues: In 2007, he was recruited to co-host and produce The Sandbox morning show on the late WFNX/Boston, where Dakin was the PD. In 2011 he moved to Connecticut and has served as a producer, on-air talent, and production director, before his latest role as the head of Ferocious Content while still overseeing traffic and production.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to take on this expanded role,” said Oliveira. “This feels like a natural step for me, and I appreciate Kristin Okesson for believing in me and my abilities. One person that has been a near-constant in my career is Keith Dakin. Having the opportunity to receive the baton from him and building on his work is a task I take on with pride. I am beyond excited to expand my role with the amazing people on this team. They are so good that operations could probably run on its own… BUT I am ecstatic they chose me to oversee it.”
Boyd (left) has been with Connoisseur Media since 2011 and has been a key driver of the company’s digital strategy and creative design. “I’m excited to join the Long Island team and take on this new role as Connoisseur’s heritage markets of Connecticut and Long Island continue to work together,” said Boyd. “I’m very grateful to Jeff, Kristin and Connoisseur for the opportunity to start this new chapter and connect with the listeners and team on Long Island.”
Bridges (right) spent the past four years with Press Communications as VP of Programming and Program Director of Classic Rock simulcast WWZY & WBHX (107-1 The Boss)/Monmouth-Ocean, NJ. The move marks a radio homecoming for Bridges, who formerly programmed WEBE 108 back in the day under former owner Cumulus. Bridges’ extensive programming resume also includes WKHQ/Traverse City, MI, and OM of Townsquare’s Portsmouth, NH cluster, preceded by an 11-year run with Cumulus Media and Westwood One, rising to Director of FM Programming for Hot AC WDVD and Country WDRQ/Detroit. Bridges earlier programmed WFAS-FM/Westchester, NY and was APD/on-air at the late WPLJ/New York. He continues to guest-host on Scott Shannon‘s True Oldies Channel.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the team at Connoisseur Media during this exciting time!” Bridges exclaimed. “I’m looking forward to working with Patrick Shea on Long Island to grow 103.1 The Wolf into one of the biggest Country stations in America, and also to return to guide the iconic WEBE 108 in Connecticut. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity, big thank you’s to Kristin Okesson, Keith Dakin and Jeff Warshaw for their belief in me.”
Kristin Okesson, SVP/Market Manager of Connoisseur Media Long Island and Connecticut, added, “The best part of my job is giving talented, passionate people opportunities to grow. For the last 10 plus years I’ve worked alongside Ed and Meghan, and without them, much of what we do in Connecticut wouldn’t be possible. Being able to expand their roles is incredibly exciting for me, and I’m also thrilled to bring back a former colleague, Robby Bridges. Robby’s expertise in Country and AC radio will be highly beneficial for us at WWWF and WEBE 108. These are some of the hardest-working people in radio, and our team continues to grow stronger in Connecticut and on Long Island.”
