Mike Powell

Experience

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  Devon & Somerset News / Tiverton News

  Jan 1969 - Jan 1973

  Senior Reporter

  Trainee reporter; block release to Cardiff College; passed Proficiency Certificate with National Council for the Training of Journalists; finishing as Senior Reporter.

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  Pulman's Weekly News

  Jan 1973 - Jan 1980

  District Reporter
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  DevonAir Radio

  Jan 1980 - Jan 1983

  Head of News & Current Affairs

  Joined as Senior Journalist, became Head of News & Current Affairs and finally Acting Programme Controller. Also presented breakfast show.

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  County Sound Radio

  Jan 1983 - Jan 1990

  CEO

  Joining pre-launch as News Editor, Mike became Program Director a year later, then Managing Director (CEO) in 1986.

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  UKRD Group Ltd

  Jan 1991 - Jan 2001

  Chief Executive

  After leaving the County Sound Radio Network, where he was Managing Director, Mike’s new company, Infinity Media, set up Pirate FM in Cornwall where Mike was launch Chief Executive. Shortly afterwards, Infinity merged with Pirate’s largest shareholder – UK Radio Developments. At the new UKRD Group Ltd, he was appointed Chief Executive. Mike played a key role in helping to set up Manchester's Kiss 102 and served a two year term as launch Chief Executive of Tristar Broadcasting (Star FM), which helped pioneer the use of new digital studio systems in the UK. He started the new County Sound Radio Network consisting of County Sound Radio 1476AM, 96.4 The Eagle and Delta Radio. He was then instrumental in selling Kiss 102 Manchester and Kiss 105 Yorkshire to the Chrysalis Group for £17.6 million (US$30 million at 2005 rates).As Chief Executive of UKRD Group Ltd, Mike steered the Group to become the UK radio’s largest private owner/operator with over 20 radio stations in the portfolio and others bought and sold along the way. Mike was principal consultant to Saga Group which subsequently launched a chain of radio stations in the United Kingdom aimed at people over the age of 50. Mike also consulted to Swedish public radio for 18 years and has conducted many training sessions and seminars in Sweden.Mike was a Visiting Lecturer in Media Studies at Lancashire Polytechnic College, Farnborough College and others. Surrey University appointed him to the Validation Panel which validated and then monitored a new media degree course at Farnborough College. He served on the Media Advisory Committee to Farnborough College and was a Board Member of the UK Radio Academy. On 1st November 2001, Mike (as Chairman) and his colleague, David Bruce (as Managing Director), set up a successor to the original Infinity Radio, to be known as Infinity Media Ltd. Infinity then de-merged from its former parent, UKRD Group Ltd. Show less

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  RCS

  Oct 2002 - Dec 2023

  Headed the international operations of RCS - the world's largest broadcast software company. RCS wholly-owned offices outside the United States include: UK, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, UAE (MENA), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, India, Latin America, South Africa. Additionally, RCS has rep operations in Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, South Korea and Japan. Also responsible for the international operations of Media Monitors subsidiary (the premier media monitoring service in the United States, India, Australia, South Africa), in particular the company’s three major processing centers in India, Malaysia and the Dominican Republic. Show less

  • SVP International Operations & Chief Compliance Officer

    Oct 2014 - Dec 2023

  • Vice President International Operations

    Oct 2002 - Sept 2014
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  Infinity Associates

  Jan 2024 - now

  Broadcast consultancy

  After retiring from fulltime employment at wonderful RCS at the end of 2023, I decided I would devote some of my newly found spare time to consultancy. I am accepting a very small number of clients who may be able to benefit from retaining an experienced advisor (something the original Infinity Radio UK did with great success). My background includes news (radio, television, print) music programming, imaging, audience research, compliance, privacy, C-level and executive posts include Chairman, CEO, COO, Managing Director, Program Director. These positions have been in the US, UK and many countries around the world. I've been involved with multi-million-dollar mergers, launches, corporate image projects. Expanding into new international markets is a speciality. Show less