Cumulus Media has appointed Stephen Chessare as its new VP/Market Manager in Bridgeport CT and John Lewis for the same role in Huntsville AL.
Chessare, the former Market Manager for Greater Media Detroit until its sale to Beasley in 2016, had been operating his own New York based consultancy. Most of his career was spent in the New York City market where he was an account executive for Oldies 101.1 WCBS-FM from 1987-1993, VP/GM of CBS Radio Sales from 1993-1998, General Sales Manager for 106.7 WLTW from 1998-2008, and Senior VP/Sales for Westwood One from 2008-2011.
Lewis will return to Cumulus to take over the Huntsville cluster from the retiring Ray Nelson. Lewis had been working for Gannett Media as Senior Director of Sales based in Knoxville TN, but previously served as a Market Manager for Cumulus in Albany GA, Pensacola FL, Lexington KY, and Memphis TN as well as Regional Market Manager in Chattanooga TN. He also served as VP/GM for Radio One Cincinnati.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed two radio management executives to Market Manager posts in the Huntsville, AL, and Bridgeport, CT, markets.
John Lewis rejoins Cumulus Media as newly named Vice President/Market Manager for its Huntsville, AL, radio station group. Lewis steps into the role concurrent with the retirement of former Cumulus Media-Huntsville Vice President/Market Manager, Ray Nelson. The appointment marks Lewis’ return to Cumulus Media, where he started his radio career as Market Manager of Cumulus Media-Albany, GA, in 2009. He was subsequently Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media’s Pensacola, FL, Lexington, KY, and Memphis, TN, station groups, and was Vice President/Regional Market Manager for Cumulus Media in Chattanooga, TN. Lewis rejoins Cumulus from USA Today/Gannett Media, where he was Senior Director, Sales, in Knoxville, TN.
Mark Sullivan, Regional Vice President, Cumulus Media, said: “I wish Ray the best in his retirement and am genuinely enthused that John is coming back to the company. John has demonstrated strong leadership qualities and produced outstanding results for us in the past. John has a strong track record of success within our company and I’m looking forward to working directly with him.”
Cumulus Media owns and operates Huntsville, AL, radio stations: WWFF-FM (NASH ICON 93.3), WUMP-AM/FM (Sports Radio 730 AM/103.9 FM The Ump), WHRP-FM (94.1 WHRP), WVNN-AM/FM (News Talk 92.5 FM/770 AM WVNN), and WZYP-FM (104.3 WZYP).
Stephen Chessare joins Cumulus Media as Vice President/Market Manager for the company’s Bridgeport, CT, radio stations. Chessare has over 30 years’ experience in radio management and sales and was previously Vice President/Market Manager for Greater Media-Detroit. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Sales, for Westwood One, and also served Clear Channel in New York as General Sales Manager and CBS Radio Sales as Vice President/General Manager. Chessare holds a B.S. degree in Management from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.
Dave Milner, Executive Vice President, Operations, Cumulus Media, said: “Stephen Chessare is a deeply experienced and effective radio manager and we are very pleased to welcome him aboard. He will be an incredible asset to Cumulus Media, to our great team in Bridgeport, and to our listeners and advertising partners.”
Cumulus Media owns and operates Bridgeport, CT, radio stations WEBE 108 FM and WICC 600 AM.
