MediaCom's Richard Jacobs to join GMG Radio

Jacobs will be responsible for managing and delivering commercial strategy and insight for  GMG Radio brands to clients, agencies and commercial partners.

Reporting to group commercial director Jonathan Gillespie, Jacobs will be charged with managing direct client relationships, insight, brand strategy and trade marketing.

At MediaCom Jacobs has led the radio team for seven and a half years and worked across the agency's roster of clients including Audi, GSK and RBS.

Before Jacobs joined MediaCom, he worked as head of sponsorship and promotions at Bauer Media, then Emap Radio, for two years in Manchester.

He started at Emap as a sponsorship and promotions executive based in London in 1997 and worked as a tour manager at CMP Promotions and at Emap Magazines before moving into radio.

Gillespie said Jacobs' new role will have a "real impact in the marketplace", adding: "Richard's experience at MediaCom places him perfectly to help move the GMG Radio commercial strategy to where the Real, Smooth and Rock Radio brands become even stronger in a competitive marketplace."

Earlier this week it emerged that former Galaxy Radio managing director Martyn Healy is to join GMG Radio as managing director of GMG Radio North East on 22 February.

Healy will oversee the day-to-day running of GMG Radio in the North East with a focus on programming and commercial opportunities across the Smooth Radio, Real Radio and Rock Radio stations.

Healy has 25 years experience in radio, including a stint as creative director at Emap Radio, and has most recently worked as a freelance consultant.