Radiocentre Research Leader Mark Barber to Step Down

UK commercial radio industry body Radiocentre has announced that its Planning Director Mark Barber will step down from the role after more than 25 years.

Barber joined the Radio Advertising Bureau - later incorporated into Radiocentre - in 2001, after working as a strategic planner at a number of media agencies. In 2008 he was appointed as Radiocentre's Planning Director, charged with leading a team of five people focused on research and insights and addressing the changes in audience behaviour resulting from the move to digital listening. Since then he has been responsible for developing the organisation's high-profile research into audience and effectiveness, including Radiogauge, ROI Multiplier, Generation Audio, Re-evaluating Media and High Gain Audio. In 2015 he received an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honour's list for services to commercial radio.

'Mark has been a joy to work with over the years,' says CEO Matt Payton, 'as well as a fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration on all matters relating to audio and advertising. His body of work is immense and respected around the world. I can only thank him for the massive contribution he's made to the success of Radiocentre and to commercial radio in the UK'.

Barber himself says that after 44 years working full-time in advertising and media, 'this feels like an appropriate moment to step back and consider a more fractional approach in the next phase of my life.'

Radiocentre says it will announce further changes to strengthen its advertising and commercial advocacy team 'in due course'.

Web site: www.radiocentre.org .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.