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Hazlitt set to add colour to radio market

Posted in Media, Oliver Milman, Latest reporters' blogs December 20th, 2007 by Oliver Milman

Although much is up in the air in the radio industry, today’s appointment of Fru Hazlitt as chief executive of its biggest beast, GCap Media, at least ensures the market won’t be dull next year.

In November, Hazlitt (pictured) shrieked “Who cares what the f*cking Welsh think?” to stunned delegates in a keynote speech at a major radio conference. She is widely known for her “energy” and “passion”…which can be seen as euphemisms for blunt talking.

This approach will raise eyebrows in meetings with the various City grey suits who spend their time agonising over GCap’s plummeting share price.

How Hazlitt deals with this group will be vital, so expect sparks to fly. Media agencies have also complained that they want to see more substance from her, so it will be intriguing to see if she becomes a little more orthodox in her approach now she has the top job.

For us journalists, it’s the best possible appointment. Ralph Bernard, Hazlitt’s predecessor, was known for a decent quote, but Fru should take this to new levels.

I imagine her PR handlers will have to form a human wall around her at industry functions to ensure she doesn’t shoot her mouth off to journalists. Again, seeing how she deals with sensitive issues will be fascinating – will she start employing the clichéd, safe corporate-speak of other media leaders?

Staff at GCap will certainly need to be on their toes. Hazlitt has proved that she is not afraid of making changes, as proved by the hiring of former Virgin Radio colleagues Paul Jackson and David Andrews to oversee Capital 95.8. But will she make the right decisions to turn around the ailing radio giant?

To read the news story related to this blog, go to mad.co.uk