Bill Hendrich To Retire, But Still Advise, Cox Media Group

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On May 6, 2020, the transition of Cox Media Group to new ownership, with Apollo Global Management taking a big stake in what is today a reconstituted company, saw the departure of Kim Guthrie as President/CEO.


Other high-profile members of the CMG family also exited over the following weeks.

Now, after three decades with Cox Media Group, its Executive VP of Radio is retiring.

Effective Dec. 31, Bill Hendrich will depart his role. However, he will remain “in an advisory capacity in 2021.”

That’s an important fact, as Guthrie’s exit was followed by those of Miami-Fort Lauderdale GSM AJ Punjabi; WFEZ-FM in Miami Director of Branding and Programming Gary Williams; and market veteran Rob Sidney, who had been handling weekends and voicing various station promos. Then came the October 23 retirement as VP/GM of Cox’s Houston radio stations of Mark Krieschen.

“Although I’m retiring from CMG, I will remain an active and passionate supporter of this great company,” Hendrich said.

In his role at Cox, Hendrich has overseen the programming, operations and sales for the company’s radio stations. He also has oversight of CMG’s Radio Revenue team and Radio Digital team.

“Bill’s retirement comes with a wealth of gratitude and mixed emotions,” said Dan York, who became Cox Media Group’s President/CEO in late May, replacing Guthrie, after serving as a Sr. EVP and Chief Content Officer for AT&T and its DirecTV arm. “In the time I have known him, he has shared his exceptional passion, focus and leadership from which our company, and our industry, has immeasurably benefited. Bill’s legacy of decisive leadership, his personal style and his deep experiences in radio and beyond will inform our work well into the future.”

Prior to his current role, Hendrich led integrated Radio and TV for Cox Media Group in several of its markets. He held the VP/Market Manager role for Cox’s six stations in Jacksonville, and before that served as VP/GM of WDBO-AM & WWKA-FM in Orlando, holding that role for a decade.

“For the past 31 years, I have been able to work with the best and most talented team in the radio industry,” Hendrich added. “With NewCity Communications, Cox Enterprises and Apollo, I have been a part of three outstanding companies–each bringing valuable and innovative ideas to keep radio viable in today’s media landscape. I look forward to continuing our work together in an advisory capacity to help the team at CMG serve their audiences, customers and communities with best-in-class services. I joined a great company in 1989 and I get to leave that same great company with pride 31 years later. I am a lucky man.”

Cox Media Group’s operations include 65 radio stations in 11 markets, and 33 television stations in 20 markets.