Grimsley Goin’ Fishin’, Lawley & Ryder Upped
• Townsquare Media announced that legendary local Louisiana radio executive Mike Grimsley will be retiring at the end of this month, closing out a 25-year run as Market President & Chief Revenue Officer for its Lafayette, LA group. He had also served as Regional VP overseeing two radio markets in Louisiana as well as personally leading the local media team in Lafayette. Grimsley (left), a native of Tallahassee, FL, began his radio career at the age of 18, and previously worked in Phoenix and Charleston, SC. He previously served as Chairman of the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters and won their coveted Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2009.
Townsquare COO Erik Hellum said of Grimsley, “Mike Grimsley broke the mold! He has uniquely combined leadership, passion and drive with the sincerest care for his people and dedication to his community — all with a great sense of humor on top. Mike is one of the original Townsquare leaders, and helped build our company with a steadfast commitment to great local radio while building a vibrant digital and event business. He is a broadcast legend. Thank you, Mike!”
• At the same time it was announced that Brad Burley (left), currently Market President & CRO for Townsquare’s Lake Charles, LA cluster will transfer to Lafayette to succeed Grimsley. He will report to SVP Todd Lawley, who said, “Brad has been a rising star at Townsquare as he guided the Lake Charles market to Townsquare Market of the Year in 2018. It’s great to be able to promote from within the company for one of our top performing clusters.” Burley remarked, “Mike Grimsley has changed the media landscape of Lafayette and more importantly, made Acadiana a better place to live. Mike is a legend whose legacy will carry on in the community long after his departure from Townsquare. I am excited to honor that legacy by leading the team to new heights in our community.”
It was also announced that Darren Ryder (right)is joining Townsquare to succeed Burley as Market President & CRO for the Lake Charles group. Ryder will also report to Lawley, who said, “Darren Ryder has a unique skillset and successful track record with broadcast, digital and analytics, which made him a perfect fit for Townsquare’s cross-platform strategy. This is a coming home for Mr. Ryder.”
Ryder added, “I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown of Lake Charles to lead the Townsquare Media team. I’m proud to join such a successful organization and look forward to reconnecting with business colleagues all over Southwest Louisiana.” Ryder was previously National Sales Director for Valassis and also held senior management positions with Spectrum Reach and Salem Communications.
