Meet Ruth Gaviria’s Successor As Entercom CMO

The search is over for Entercom Communcations’ second-ever Chief Marketing Officer.

It’s selected a man who until one year ago served as the Chief Global Marketing Officer of one of the world’s largest commercial real estate and investment firms.

Now serving as Entercom’s CMO, starting Sept. 3, is Paul Suchman.

He takes a role first held by Ruth Gaviria, who exited earlier this year. Gaviria in July launched a New York-based brand identity, marketing and leadership design practice after spending 3 1/2 years at Entercom’s first-ever marketing chief. Prior to that, Gaviria was EVP/Corporate Marketing at Univision Communications and came to Entercom with a resume that included stints at Meredith Corp.’s VP of Hispanic Ventures, primarily as founding editor and publisher of Siempre Mujer magazine.

In Suchman, Entercom has a marketing pro with no broadcast media experience since graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Integrated Marketing and Finance.

But, he has years of experience at some of the world’s biggest advertising agencies — a plus that could very much help Entercom in getting more advertisers to think about Radio.

Suchman began his career at Young & Rubicam as an AE in 1992. In 1994 he took on the role of Senior Associate of Brand Strategy at Lippincott, exiting two years later for a digital brand strategy role at Agency.com.

In January 2000, Suchman shifted to Ogilvy & Mather, serving as a senior partner and executive group director. Then, in August 2006, he took the role of EVP/Worldwide Director at BBDO Worldwide, one he would hold for seven years.

That’s when Suchman shifted to the in-house top marketing role at CBRE, the real estate behemoth.

For the last year, he has served as “CMO in Residence” at WPP — another major global ad world player.

“I am thrilled to be joining an amazing team of people and a company that is fueled by innovation and growth,” Suchman said. “There’s a revolution happening in the audio industry that will have a profound impact on how brands connect to and bond effectively with consumers. I’m excited to be part of it.”

Suchman “will play a pivotal role in elevating the Entercom and RADIO.COM brands in the client and agency communities and enhancing how customers capitalize on our robust, unique product offerings across our leading local radio brands, podcasting, digital, live events, sports and news,” Entercom President/CEO David Field said in a release. “Paul has built his career working with leading brands to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving media landscape. He has led successful global initiatives and high-performing teams inside corporate and agency environments.”

The appointment comes as Entercom shares continue to underperform, with midday trading on Tuesday putting ETM at a fresh five-year low.