Former GCap Media chief executive David Mansfield has been appointed as chairman of RAJAR. He succeeds Lord Gordon of Strathblane, CBE, who retired earlier this year after four years in the post.
David Mansfield is currently an executive director of Ingenious Media PLC, which he joined in May 2006. His career spans nearly 30 years in television and radio, with the early part in Scottish Television and Grampian Sales followed by Thames Television, where he rose to deputy director sales and marketing. In 1993 he moved to Capital Radio as group commercial director and was appointed chief executive of the company in 1997. When Capital Radio merged with GWR PLC to form GGAP Media PLC in May 2005 he remained as chief executive and oversaw the integration of the business until resigning his post in September 2005.
Commenting on his appointment David Mansfield said: “Measuring audience behaviour is a significant challenge for all media and particularly radio which is at the forefront of the digital revolution. RAJAR is the world’s leading radio audience research body and has been highly successful in enabling both the public and commercial sectors to work constructively together for the good of the industry. I am looking forward greatly to taking the organisation forward and maintaining its excellent service to the industry.”
Jenny Abramsky, RAJAR board member and director, BBC Audio and Music, commented: "Radio is an exciting and dynamic industry in which to be involved, now more so than ever, and I am therefore delighted that David, with his impressive track record, has agreed to assist RAJAR in facing the challenges of audience research in the 21st century. I would also like to express our thanks to Jimmy Gordon for his measured and careful guidance during his four year term, which was a period of great change for RAJAR, not least the preparation of the new contract which we introduced in January 2007."