Bauer appoints King as regional managing director for radio

King has been interim regional managing director for the past five weeks, after Surrell left Bauer to pursue interests outside the industry after 22 years with the company.

King's initial task was to finalise 2010 plans for Bauer Media's stations in the North West. He has now been charged with implementing strategy across the North West and Midlands stations. King will report to Dee Ford, group managing director of radio at Bauer Media.

His new role is an expansion of Surrell's remit and he will continue to look after Kerrang in the Midlands, as well as Bauer's relationship with Ofcom over compliance issues. He will divide his time between Liverpool, Preston, Birmingham and Manchester.

Ford said King was the "stand-out applicant, given his enthusiasm and passion for the role, combined with his track record, wealth of experience and first-hand understanding of these markets and their challenges".

King has 29 years' experience in commercial radio. His career has included tenures as development director and group programming at Forever Broadcasting (latterly the Wireless Group and then UTV), station managing director at Radio Aire and programme director at Radio Hallam, and regional managing director at Metro Radio, Yorkshire.