In February 2017, a radio industry pro approaching his second anniversary as Director of Sales for three Entercom radio stations in New Orleans took a sabbatical.
“[I] took time to reset my life,” he wrote on his LinkedIn profile. “It was amazing. Not many of us get a chance to really just stop and smell the roses.”
Now, after nearly a year as a Knoxville-based Business Development Manager for a large regional audio/visual company, he’s heading back to the Big Easy — for a big job at the nation’s biggest radio broadcasting company.
As of June 11, the new Market President for iHeart’s New Orleans station group is Mark Boudreaux.
In his forthcoming role, Boudreaux will work with the programming, marketing and sales teams for the following stations:
- Urban WQUE-FM 93.3
- Classic Hip-Hop K242CE, branded as “Throwback 96.3”
- Urban AC WYLD-FM 98.5
- News/Talk WRNO-FM 99.5
- Country WNOE-FM 101.1
- Adult Hits KVDU-FM 104.1
- Gospel WYLD-AM 940
- FOX Sports Radio affiliate WODT-AM 1280
Boudreaux will report to iHeartMedia Baton Rouge/New Orleans Area President Michael Hudson.
The appointment marks his return to the Big Easy after 18 months in Knoxville. From March 2015 until January 2017, he served as Director of Sales for WKBU-FM 95.7, WEZB-FM 97.1 and WLMG-FM 101.9 in New Orleans for Entercom.
“We’re thrilled to have Mark as our new leader at iHeartMedia New Orleans,” Hudson said. “His incredible skill set and passion for people make him the perfect person to take the stations in our New Orleans market to amazing ratings and revenue thresholds.”
Eddie Martiny, President of iHeartMedia’s Houston Region, also praised Boudreaux.
“Who better to run our iHeartMedia/New Orleans market than a native New Orleanian? Mark has a proven track record in the Crescent City as a seller, Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales. We are excited to have Mark and his infectious personality leading iHeartMedia in New Orleans.”
Boudreaux also has ties to Knoxville, where he was with South Central A/V after taking a break from radio.
From February 2009 through March 2015, he worked in Knoxville radio — first as GSM of South Central Media‘s stations and then as Director of Sales for Midwest Communications.
But, before that, Boudreaux had already made his mark in radio in his hometown. He rose through the sales ranks at News/Talk WWL-AM 870, becoming GSM over a 16-year run that began in 1993. He was an integral part of the sales team that helped restore operations following Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.
How did Boudreaux end up in radio? Some 25 years ago he joined the WWL sales team after eight years in sales, management and ownership of a seafood industry fishery. From 1978-1985, he was a Sales Manager at Stereo Village.
“I’m fired up to work with iHeartMedia, especially in a great market like New Orleans that truly understands the power, reach and ROI of radio,” Boudreaux said. “I’ve known many on the iHeartMedia/New Orleans team for years and the chance to play in the same sandbox with such a talented group is amazing.”
