Absolute Radio chief to leave station

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/16/absolute-radio-chief-leave-clive-dickens

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Absolute Radio chief operating officer Clive Dickens is leaving the station as its owner prepares to sell up.

Dickens, who has been with the broadcaster for five years, will depart in the spring and is relocating to Sydney to become director of digital innovation at Southern Cross Austereo.

By the time he leaves Absolute Radio, its parent company, Times of India owner Bennett, Coleman & Co, may have sold the business, with Bauer Media now seen as the most likely buyer after a consortium led by former Virgin Radio chief executive John Pearson pulled its bid this week.

Dickens' responsibilities will be spilt between chief executive Donnach O'Driscoll and chief financial officer Adrian Robinson. Tony Moorey, content director, will have greater responsibility for programming.

"I am really sad to leave, but it has always been an ambition to live closer to my family in Australia and this opportunity to work within the wider Asia-Pacific digital economy is the chance of a lifetime. Absolute Radio is in great shape and I will be leaving it in great hands," Dickens said.

O'Driscoll said: "We wish Clive the very best as he embarks on a new chapter of his life and career in Australia. His contribution to the business over the last five years has been nothing short of enormous. He has, in that time, fostered and developed a great team of people and Adrian and I look forward to working even more closely with them. "

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