CBS RADIO APPOINTS FRED BENNETT AS VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER, TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS
New Executive Role Added to Build and Manage Traffic Content and Sales
NEW YORK, NY, November 17, 2016 – CBS RADIO today announces the appointment of Fred Bennett as Vice President and General Manager, Traffic Operations and Partnerships, effective Monday, November 21. In this newly-created role, Bennett is charged with building an in-house traffic content and sales operation to serve CBS RADIO’s 117 radio stations operating in 26 U.S. markets and corresponding websites. He will report to Scott Herman, Chief Operating Officer, CBS RADIO, and be based in the organization’s New York headquarters.
In addition to leading the effort to further develop the businesses’ operations, Bennett will be working to create a content-specific group – composed of reporters and editors – which will create comprehensive local traffic reports to air on CBS RADIO stations and accompanying online properties. A dedicated sales team will focus on selling sponsorships within and around the traffic reports to regional and local advertisers. Bennett will also oversee CBS RADIO’s relationship with Radiate Media, its new traffic content partner that will supply customized data and also sell national sponsorships within traffic reports. The deal with Radiate Media is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2017.
“Fred’s 20-plus-year background in the traffic business coupled with his experience in radio station sales and management make him uniquely qualified to lead our traffic content and sales operations,” said Herman.
Bennett added, “I’m thrilled to join CBS RADIO and to have the opportunity to build traffic content and sales operations that focus on our audience needs and our advertising partner goals.”
Most recently, Bennett served as the president and chief revenue officer of WKXW-FM (New Jersey 101.5). Prior to that, he was the chief business development officer for Jelli, Inc., the first cloud-based programmatic ad platform for the global radio market. While there, Bennett grew revenue and distribution and established key partnerships for the company. Bennett previously worked at Westwood One where he held a number of roles including president of Metro Television; EVP, Affiliate Sales & Business Operations of Metro Traffic; and SVP, Advertising Sales of Metro Traffic. Earlier in his career, Bennett held various senior level sales and operations positions with WABC, Pamal Broadcasting and Shadow Traffic. He is currently a board member of the International Radio & Television Society.