GMG Radio has announced that Scottish radio legend Jay Crawford is to leave the company following a long period of ill health.
His role heading up programming for Real Radio Scotland will be taken on by David Treasurer, who becomes Programme Controller.
Jay’s radio career began in 1974, when at 19 he became the youngest full time presenter in the UK at the time with Radio Forth. He also spent many years at Radio Clyde before joining GMG Radio Scotland. He said: “10 fabulous years at GMG Radio and I’m going to miss the day to day thrill of live radio, but I’m looking at this as the beginning of a new chapter in my life and if tomorrow is half as exciting as yesterday then yesterday was twice as good as it is today!”
David Treasurer became Acting PC nine months ago, and staff were told this week that Jay’s ill health means he won’t be returning to work. David – who was named in the Radio Academy’s ’30 under 30′ list last year – was previously Head of Presentation. That role will now be done by New Editor Heather Kane who becomes Head of News and Presentation for Real Radio Scotland.
John Simons, Group Programme Director for GMG Radio said: “Jay has been a huge driving force in the success that we’ve enjoyed at Real Radio over the past 10 years and its testament to his skills in nurturing and developing new talent that we announce David Treasurer’s role as Programme Controller of Real Radio Scotland and Heather Kane’s promotion to the new role of Head of News & Presentation. Jay will be greatly missed, personally by me and by his colleagues throughout the business.”
Gavin Bruce, Managing Director for GMG Radio Scotland added: “David and Heather have been with the business for over ten years, both benefitting in that time from Jay’s outstanding stewardship. Jay has helped shape their careers, giving them a wealth of experience and I believe they will continue to lead and inspire our programming team as we head into a new era.”
Jay was named as a Fellow of the Radio Academy in 2008 and was previously Chair of the Radio Academy in Scotland.
Posted on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 1:06 pm by RadioToday UK