Tributes paid to first RAB CEO Douglas McArthur OBE

Douglas McArthur, the first CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau has died aged 68 following an illness.

Douglas was well known in the radio, sales, advertising and media sectors thanks to a career spanning over three decades.

He retired earlier this year from UKOM (UK Online Measurement), where he’d been Chairman since 2009, and gave this interview with Mediatel to look back on his life in radio.

Tributes have been paid by his friends and former colleagues, with former GWR Executive Ralph Bernard saying: “Just heard that lovely Douglas McArthur has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was the first CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau and a superb radio man who completely understood the industry.

“He was one of the few who made commercial radio the success it is today.”

Douglas died peacefully on Monday night surrounded by his wife and family.

On the news that Douglas McArthur has passed away, hear him chat here to @TrevorDann in this 2013 @Radiocentre interview about the approach he took at the Radio Advertising Bureau which was to change commercial radio's fortunes. https://t.co/aJEfVCb6md

— 📻 David Lloyd (@DavidLloydRADIO) July 16, 2019

I will miss you Douglas McArthur. You set the highest standards and led by example, while making this business a better place to work. Even if you were still with us, I doubt you'd be reading twitter as you'd be busy with something far more worthwhile!

— Culture of Insights (@datasetfree) July 16, 2019

Just heard that lovely Douglas McArthur has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was the first CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau and a superb radio man who completely understood the industry. He was one of the few who made commercial radio the success it is today.

— Ralph Bernard (@RalphBernard4) July 16, 2019

Comments

Bob Hoad


July 16, 2019 - 3:56 pm, 3:56 pm

Shocked and saddened to hear this news. I remember Douglas launching the RAB inspiring me and many others on how radio played its part in the media world. Radio owes a lot to his drive and passion. My thoughts with his family.