At about 4:30 each day, Clinton Maynard features a segment called ‘Straight Shooters,’ a regular slot with a guest in his 2GB drive show studio, talking about issues of the day.
Craig Laundy was a Federal Liberal MP and Minister, so Clinton has often talked politics with him in that segment.
“He provides an insight into what is happening… he still has close contacts on both sides of politics,” Clinton Maynard told radioinfo.
His most recent appearance was at 4:30 pm last week.
“I had joked to him last November, he and the family should buy the network… Little did I know he was in the early stages of negotiations,” says Maynard.
Clinton Maynard was as surprised as anyone about the deal: “It’s a surprise to the industry, but it’s a mark of how they do business. There was not one leak, not one story about them in the papers until Thursday night… That is their style, under the radar and just get on with it.”
Maynard says Arthur Laundy has “built a hugely successful business of more than 90 venues, on the back of his work ethic, and honest family values. I’ve met him at several outside broadcasts at his venues and he is a thoroughly down to earth man. He knows the names of staff, he can be spotted picking up glasses, I’ve seen that myself.”
But Clinton has had more dealings with Craig Laundy:
“Craig has been the driver of the deal and I know Craig far better. He has had a weekly segment on my Sydney Now Drive show since January last year.
“Being a former politician and businessman, Craig is obviously interested in the content we broadcast and having been a weekly guest, has experienced it first hand,
“They clearly value the commercial side… over the last 12 months I think they’ve hosted 3 OBs, two with my show and another with CCT from memory.”
Maynard says staff “are happy with the developments.”