Harvard Media cut several senior positions in its Alberta operation on Thursday which staff say have left the Calgary office, in particular, “gutted.”
Those departing the company include X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary Program Director Jim McCourtie, who also held the title of Vice-President, Local Media; Music Director and Assistant Program Director Matt Berry; and Creative Director Darren Ollinger. Berry and Ollinger were both long-serving Harvard employees, with the company 14 and 17 years, respectively.
At Cruz 95.7 (CKEA-FM) Edmonton, morning show host Lochlin Cross, who had been with the station since 2015, and afternoon drive personality Pam Kirby were casualties.
Ollinger oversaw the Alberta creative team and wrote the majority of commercials and promotions. With his departure, Shawna Winterhalt, Creative Director for Harvard’s Saskatchewan stations, will now assume those responsibilities.
Berry, a two-time Canadian Radio Award–winner for Music Director of the Year, oversaw music for Harvard’s X brand, in addition to the Alberta station group. As Assistant Program Director at X92.9, he was also hands-on with the on-air staff.
McCourtie, in addition to serving as PD of X92.9, had recently been put in charge of Harvard’s X and Play brands. Kris Mazurak, who joined the company earlier this year as Director of Local Media & Experience Products, now takes charge of the X stations, while Danny Kid, Vice President of Local Media, overseeing Harvard’s Cruz branded stations and Regina’s 104.9 The Wolf (CFWF-FM), will take on the Play stations.
“I don’t say it lightly…these three men are pillars of the industry, and this is a major loss to the station, and the company,” a Harvard employee, who wished to remain unnamed, told Broadcast Dialogue. “As these were essentially the three most-senior members of the Calgary office, it has essentially left us gutted, with most every department impacted by the changes.”
Those changes follow a round of restructuring and internal promotions across Harvard’s Alberta and Saskatchewan operation announced in January.
“We continue to evolve our business to thrive in these challenging economic times,” George Leith, Harvard Media’s Executive Vice President and Managing Partner, told Broadcast Dialogue, in an email. “Radio is the most important asset of our digital media organization.”
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