After sixteen years with the company, Ciaran Davis will step down as CEO and Managing Director of ARN on January 15, 2026. Chief Operating Officer Michael Stephenson will be his successor.

Davis led ARN through the launch of iHeartRadio, the sale of Adshel and purchase into Soprano Design and the recruitment of Kyle and Jackie O from SCA.

Davis said:

 “It has been a privilege to lead ARN Media over the past 16 years, working alongside a talented and passionate team. With a clear transformation strategy in place and an excellent successor in Michael, I believe now is the right time to step aside. I want to sincerely thank the incredible people at ARN Media I’ve had the pleasure of working with, as well as the Board, our shareholders, and clients for their ongoing support.”

Hamish McLennan, Chairman of The Board and Non-executive Director, added:

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Ciaran for his outstanding leadership and commitment. Under his stewardship, ARN Media has navigated a rapidly changing media landscape and kept the company at the forefront of innovation. We are grateful for his vision and dedication.”

We are also confident that our strong succession planning ensures continuity for the business. Michael brings deep experience and understanding of our strategy and operations, as well as the broader media industry, making him the ideal candidate to drive the company forward through its next phase.”

This succession plan would have been in place well before a second investigation by the ACMA into the Kyle and Jackie O show found 12 breaches in total of decency and complaint handling rules. Davis’s departure might be a part of the addressing of enforcement actions.

Davis and Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell who departed for a consultancy role this year too, were both champions of Kyle and Jackie O and the driving force behind their ten year contracts.

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.