Cox Media Group has promoted Keith Lawless from Market Manager of their Tampa cluster to Regional Vice President overseeing both Tampa and Houston.

Lawless has been with Cox Tampa since 2000 where he first served as General Sales Manager for 97.1 WSUN and VP/GM of their three Rock stations in the Tampa market before rising to VP/Market Manager in 2009.

He fills the leadership hole in Houston that had been held by Mark Krieschen for nineteen years until retiring last October.

Cox Media Group (“CMG”) today announced the appointment of Keith Lawless as Regional Vice President of CMG Tampa + Houston, effective immediately. The addition of the Houston market expands Lawless’ role within CMG, adding the Houston market portfolio of top performing brands, including The New 93Q, Country Legends 97.1and The Eagle 106.9 and 107.5

Lawless has been the Vice President & Market Manager in Tampa since 2009, after moving up the radio ladder from General Manager in 2005, General Sales Manager from 1999-2005 and National Sales and Account Manager prior to that.

“I am thrilled to announce Keith Lawless as Regional Vice President over two of CMG Radio’s key markets, CMG Tampa and now CMG Houston,” said Rob Babin, SVP, CMG Radio. “Keith has demonstrated an unwavering commitment for many years and has made an incredible impact on CMG Tampa and successfully led many CMG Radio strategic initiatives. His passion for his team, CMG Radio, and our industry make him the ideal leader to take on the role of RVP.”

“I am honored to be joining and leading the CMG Houston team,” said Lawless. “I look forward to listening, learning, and partnering with the Houston stations to build deeper relationships with each other, the audiences who tune in daily, the advertising customers we partner with every day and the communities we serve. Our collective passion for the industry and helping others will be the cornerstone of our success.”

In 2016, Lawless was recognized as Radio Ink’s “Radio Wayne General Manager of The Year.” In addition, Radio Ink has recognized Keith as one of the “30 Best Managers in America” numerous times. He serves on the Nielsen Audio Advisory Council; the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Tampa Bay; The Radio Advertising Bureau’s Board of Directors (RAB); and as the Vice-Chairman (for radio) and Executive Committee board member for the Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB), where he lobbies congressional leaders in D.C. on broadcast related issues. 

Lawless is a graduate of the University of South Florida.