With Bill Hendrich‘s retirement at the end of 2020, Cox Media Group needed to select a new leader to oversee its collection of AM and FM radio stations.
On Thursday, CMG, today majority-owned by Apollo Global Management, revealed just who will be assuming Hendrich’s former duties.
While Hendrich held the title of Executive VP of Radio, his day-to-day duties are being passed on to Rob Babin, who takes the title of SVP/Radio.
Babin rises from the role of VP/Market Manager for Cox Media Group’s Atlanta and Athens, Ga., stations.
“We are so excited that Rob accepted this role on the CMG leadership team,” said Dan York, who assumed President/CEO duties at CMG following the exit of Kim Guthrie in May 2020. “He is a proven leader with a true passion for the radio, CMG and his people. Rob is a collaborative and agile executive, with deep industry and CMG expertise and passion for everything he does – making him the ideal leader for CMG Radio.”
Specifically, Babin will be responsible for the profitability, strategic direction and operational execution of CMG’s radio platform, comprised of 65 radio stations in 11 markets including Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Miami-Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Tulsa; Dayton; and its home market of Atlanta.
CMG says Babin will also focus heavily “on achieving CMG’s Radio strategic growth objectives while maintaining CMG’s industry leading content, impactful community engagement, and growth-focused culture.”
Babin is a Cox Radio veteran, and has served as a regional VP overseeing Miami, Houston, Tampa-St. Petersburg, San Antonio and New York’s Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk).
He’s also served as GSM and Director of Sales for CMG’s Atlanta quartet, comprised of WSB-AM, WSB-FM, WALR and WSRV “97.1 The River.”
“Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside many exceptional individuals and teams across CMG,” said Babin. “I am thrilled to accept this position and honored to lead our CMG radio team. With our company’s incredible strength, brands, and people, we will continue to excel and grow our radio business to new heights.”
Babin is currently a board member of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau.
