Norfolk Waiting For Rusty James

• Max Media of Hampton Roads has hired Rusty James as the new Vice President of Operations and Programming for its Norfolk, VA cluster — Classic Hits WVBW (92.9 The Wave), Country WGH (Eagle 97), Oldies WGH-AM, WVSP (ESPN 94.1) and Top 40 WVHT (Hot 100). The position has been vacant since Feb. 2016 when Cumulus hired John Shomby away as Director of Programming for its NASH Network.

James starts on July 9 and is inbound from Evansville, IN, where he spent the past 13 1/2 years with Midwest Communications, the last four as Operations Manager for WIKY, WSTO, WABX and WLFW. James got his radio start in Frankfort, KY in 1983 at the age of 14. He’s also an independent film actor and has appeared in several movies, including his latest with Will Chase, E-Bowla.

James said, “I certainly didn’t anticipate leaving WIKY and my Midwest Communications family. However, I met Keith Barton and I realized that this opportunity was just too good to pass up. I look forward to working with the team in Virginia Beach to continue to grow their great radio stations!”