Julian Carter, a senior sales executive over several years in the broadcast and publishing industries, is joining Sun FM in Newcastle as managing director on Monday 18 March.
He is currently the commercial director at UTV Media (GB) based in Warrington.
His successor at UTV is Michael Dobson.
Carter’s CV includes launching a number of agency sales teams.
He was the sales director of Century Radio (now Real) where he created the Century brand agency sales team. He then relaunched Capital Radio Advertising in the regions, launched the GMG Radio sales agency team and latterly, while at UTV, has helped the talksport Regional team restructure and subsequently expand.
He also spent some time outside radio when he joined the publishing company Ten Alps as commercial director, before the lure of radio took him back to the airwaves.
On Monday he joins UKRD-owned Sun FM as MD, the first time that he will have held a non-sales-led management position.
Carter told Prolific North that he feels that too many folk outside the North, pay too little regard to what is being achieved across the region.
“The regions are so proactive at what they do – whether it is sales or client development led.
“We know we have to drive the business and work hard to deliver results and fantastic customer service. In tough times we should be considering investing not cutting sales teams so we can create new cash. I believe strongly that all major media owners should have a base in the North: rarely have I seen dealing with London as an effective route to maximise revenue.
“London operates differently and as the HQ for most businesses, it has other priorities.
“It means in the regions we can and do focus on creating great ideas and selling the ’sizzle as well as the sausage’.
“Media is meant to be fun and just because great transparency and accountability are the proper way to conduct business, it does not mean we should forget the power of a creatively delivered pitch. Those who do both, will win the day and prosper.
“I believe we have to be different and build long term sustainable and business healthy relationships.”