In September 2018, Gen Media Partners acquired Sun Broadcast Group, which has offices in Boca Raton, Fla., and in New York.
At the time, Julio Aponte served as COO, and retained the position he had since 2014. He was previously Director of Hispanic National Sales at Cumulus Media Networks and ESPN Deportes, and from 2007-2009 was MTV Tr3s GSM.
As of today, there’s a new COO controlling Sun.
Veteran network radio executive Danno Wolkoff, who helped build Envision Networks as a leading content and affiliate services provider, is the new Chief Operating Officer.
Aponte is no longer with SBG. According to a company spokesperson, Aponte was released from his contract at the end of July. “As mutually agreed, Aponte continued to come into the Sun office through the end of August to hand over operations to Danno,” the representative tells RBR+TVBR.
Also confirmed to have exited SBG, as first reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, are Traffic Coordinator Donna Schaneen, who had been in the role since July 2019; Media Research Analyst Kay Campbell, who joined SBG in February 2019; and Ann Bailey, the Director of Business Operations for more than a decade.
Schaneen and Campbell “each voluntarily resigned several weeks ago to pursue other interests outside of radio,” the SBG representative says. Bailey’s position was eliminated “due to duplication.”
Wolkoff’s appointment is tied to Envision’s acquisition by GMP, through SBG, in January 2020. At the time, he took the role of Chief Development Officer at SBG.
With his new role, Sun has created two additional New York-based ad sales roles, with Jackie Cardillo and Angela Codella coming aboard and reporting directly to Wolkoff.
“This expansion is testimony to the strong growth Sun is experiencing now, and in the future, despite Covid-19,” GMOP CEO Kevin Garrity said, adding that Cleveland-based positions tied to the heritage Envision home base are on the way.
“I am as excited as I’ve ever been in my career to lead the growth of Sun Broadcast Group,” Wolkoff said. “The combined programs and services of Sun and Envision allow us to continue to expand and deliver stellar quality programs and services to radio stations in all size markets across the country. We will look to maximize all of Sun’s resources to create new opportunities for advertisers with both audio and digital networks.”
SBG President Jason Bailey, who retains his role, notes that he has been a “dear friend” of Wolkoff for nine years and is “excited for him to step into this role and lead the team to great new heights!”
