Key Networks Bulks Up With Higgins, Baum
• Key Networks has expanded its offerings to include network audio advertising sales to producers and service/program providers. Leading the team for Key Networks will be several former longtime United Stations Radio Networks execs — Jim Higgins, who joins Key Networks as President & Chief Operating Officer, and ad sales veteran Rich Baum is named Executive Vice President, Advertising Sales.
The New York-based Higgins (left) spent the past 36 years with USRN, the last 15 as President & COO, and the previous 21 years as EVP/GM. Earlier in his career he was an Account Supervisor at Grey Advertising and ran Market Research for RCA Records. The Chicago-based Baum (right) was a 24-year USRN veteran, the last 13 years as EVP, Sales, and 11 years prior as SVP. He was also Manager, Southwest Network Sales and Sr. Account Executive, Midwest Regional for Westwood One in Chicago and Dallas and an Account Exec for Unistar Radio Networks.
Rob Koblasz, CEO of Key Networks and Sun & Fun Media, said, “We are excited to now be a full-service network company for our existing as well as new clients, with the addition of advertising sales capabilities and an experienced and knowledgeable senior executive team, led by Jim Higgins as President and COO of Key Networks and Rich Baum as EVP, Advertising Sales.” Koblasz added, “Our goal when we started Key Networks was to be best-in-class, from the talent we represent, the producers we work with and the professionals on our team. Both Jim and Rich fit that description perfectly. Their contacts in the ad sales and marketing world run deep and they are highly respected in the industry. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Jim and Rich to help build Key Networks into a successful full-service network audio company.”
Higgins said, “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with a very entrepreneurial network group, including [CRO] Dennis [Green], Rich and Rob to drive Key Networks forward. My strength is in delivering results for marketing partners while also building relationships that keep me engaged and involved in their business growth and development. Collectively, we intend to be a big part of Audio’s renaissance with renewed interest from a growing number of advertisers and brands who know that radio gets results. Stay tuned!” Baum remarked, “I’m very excited to join Rob, Dennis, Jim and the whole Key Networks team as we look to build a best-in-class, full service Network Audio company. This collaboration could not happen at a better time as advertiser interest in strong audio platforms has seen a significant resurgence over the last few years.”
Key Networks, based in Orlando, FL and New York was launched last year by its affiliated company Sun & Fun Media with the appointment of Chief Revenue Officer Dennis Green. This spring, the company launched its first nationally syndicated radio program, The O’Reilly Update, currently heard on 165 radio stations across the U.S.
Jim Higgins can now be reached at jim@keynetworks.com or 646-757-0394; contact Rich Baum at rich@keynetworks.com or 847-502-8329; and hit up Dennis Green at dennis@keynetworks.com or 407-915-5023.
