PITTSBURGH — The visit of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to talk about technology and funding for broadband infrastructure wasn’t the only news coming out of the Steel City on Wednesday.
In an intriguing move, iHeartMedia has turned to a veteran National Football League marketing pro and longtime Comcast Sports Southeast executive to fill its Area President position in the Pittsburgh/West Virginia Region.
With the move, Mark Fuhrman will oversee 24 radio stations. However, he will focus his efforts on programming, and working with the business and sales teams, for iHeart’s properties in the West Virginia cities of Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling, W. Va.
He reports to Tim McAleer, President of iHeartMedia’s Pittsburgh Region.
Fuhrman joins iHeart after serving as a General Manager serving the Marshall University account for IMG College, a division of IMG Worldwide that focuses on collegiate sports marketing company at the national, regional, and local multi-platform level.
IMG College dates to 2007, when IMG Worldwide acquired Host Communications.
With Marshall a major presence in Huntington, W. Va., McAleer believes he’s ready to hit the ground running in his new role.
“Mark knows the market area and has an incredible history of growing positive and productive cultures, while achieving bottom line goals,” McAleer said. “His exceptional background makes him the perfect person to lead our West Virginia Markets and I’m confident our stations will continue their success under his leadership.”
While Fuhrman’s title officially includes Pittsburgh, he will initially maintain focus on iHeart’s Mountaineer State properties. The company has seven stations serving Huntington, four stations in Parkersburg, and six stations in Wheeling. There are seven stations in the Pittsburgh market.
Fuhrman’s resume includes roles as VP/Sales & Marketing for the Major League Lacrosse expansion franchise Atlanta Blaze and spent a decade running the Atlanta-based Comcast Sports Southeast regional sports television network.
His NFL experience includes roles as Director/Club Marketing for the NFL and as Director/Marketing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has also been Director/Sales & Marketing for the Atlanta Falcons.
Early career highlights include a role as Regional Manager/Pro & Motor Sports for Miller Brewing Co., and as a field advertising representative for Procter & Gamble Co.
