Connoisseur Media has announced a series of programming leadership changes at its stations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland.
Brian Figula, who recently joined Connoisseur as part of their acquisition of Bonneville’s San Francisco stations, has been appointed Regional Operations Manager for the Bay Area as he will oversee all of the properties in San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. He will continue to program AC 96.5 KOIT, while adding those duties for Country “Bay Country 98.5/92.1” KBAY San Jose/KKDV Walnut Creek and Hot AC “Mix 106.5” KEZR San Jose following J Love’s departure earlier this week. Figula will also give up his role programming the former Classic Rock “KFOX” KUFX and Adult R&B 102.9 KBLX Berkeley/San Francisco.
‘Jazzy’ Jim Archer, the PD of CHR “99.7 Now” KMVQ San Francisco, will now also program KBLX and CHR “Live 95.5” KBFF Portland. Portland Operations Manager Ross MacLeod will add day-to-day programming of Country “98.7 The Bull” KUPL in addition to AAA 101.9 KINK and Rock “102.9 KUFO” KINK-HD2. KBFF and KUPL had previously been programmed by Dylan Salisbury until his exit in early June.
The following on-air lineup changes will also take place. Former KFOX midday host Chris Jackson will move to KEZR from 12-3pm to replace J Love on-air. KBAY afternoon host Emily Harlan will add middays at KUPL following Jamie Tanchyk’s move to afternoons on KBFF.
Figula said, “These changes allow us to align our programming leadership with the continued growth of our West Coast brands. We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented team, and this structure gives each market experienced local leadership while creating new opportunities for collaboration across the region.”
Connoisseur SVP/Programming Keith Dakin said, “The changes we made today in San Francisco, San Jose, and Portland better position us for continued success. I have tremendous confidence in Fig, Jazzy, and Ross. They are talented programmers who understand their markets, know how to put the right people in the right positions, and have a proven ability to work with talent to create programming that is relevant, engaging, and locally connected. I’m excited to see what they’ll accomplish as they continue to strengthen our brands in highly competitive markets.”
