James Rea replaces Richard Park as Director of Broadcasting at Global

James Rea has been promoted to Director of Broadcasting at Global, replacing Richard Park who stepped down due to health issues recently.

James will oversee all programming and brand output for Global’s radio brands, in what Founder & Executive President Ashley Tabor-King describes as a new era for Global. He also takes a position on the main Global Radio Board, the first such appointment in a number of years.

James joined Global in 2011 from GMG as Managing Editor of LBC, then took over programming of Heart in 2017. He is also a non-executive director of IRN and sits on the Board of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

Gareth Andrews will remain as Group Programming Operations Director, GPOD, reporting to James Rea, taking on a new wider remit that sees him ensuring the smooth operation of Global’s programming, across all brands.

Ashley Tabor-King OBE, Global’s Founder & Executive President, told RadioToday: “James has been at Global for eight years and has done an excellent job running LBC and Global’s Newsroom, as well as Heart, our biggest brand.

“The growth and development of these brands has been superb under his leadership and James steps into his new role with all the credentials, gravitas and experience needed.”

He continued, “James will announce his initial team in the coming days. This is the beginning of a very exciting new era for Global and I want to personally welcome James to the Global Radio main board, an appointment that we take very seriously.

“I’d also like to take a moment to again recognise the enormous contribution that Richard Park has made to Global and the entire radio industry, a contribution that will continue in his new role as Senior Programming Advisor.”

James Rea said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed Director of Broadcasting at Global. It is a huge honour and enormous responsibility to be asked by Ashley to lead a new chapter for our formidable programming team.

“I’ve been fortunate to work hand in glove with Richard Park for a number of years and I want to thank him for the incredible contribution he has made to me, the industry and to so many of us here at Global. We have some of the greatest and most inspirational radio brands in the world and I’m looking forward to working with our brilliant teams to grow them and continue to be best in class in a new era for radio, audio and video.”