Virgin Radio has announced it will promote the producer of the Christian O'Connell breakfast show, Roque Segade Vieito, to the newly created job of Executive Producer for the whole station. The promotion precedes the station's relaunch under a new name, which follows its acquisition by the Times Of India Media Group.
Confirming the promotion, Virgin Radio boss Clive Dickens wrote on the company's blog: "What is important is to make sure that whenever we get new people on board or introduce new, more demanding programme properties, we make sure we give them the production resource they warrant. That's why I'm creating a new executive producer post to help me look after some of the new presentation talent we'll bring in as the brand evolves over the next few months and years".
The promotion will mean Vieito, who has worked with O'Connell ever since he was breakfast show host on Xfm, will no longer directly work on the breakfast show. O'Connell paid tribute to his out-going producer thus: "He is the yardstick by which all producers should be judged. He has the rare and important qualities you need producing a breakfast show. He is dependable, reliable, enthusiastic, energetic and has a twinkle in his eye for mischief. He has been the fire and brimstone driving what I have done on breakfast radio for along time. His hard work ethic is inspirational... The times when I have wobbled he has kept me steady".