The release of last Tuesday’s GfK survey results would have been a bitter sweet moment for Craig Bruce who had left SCA just days before, after 27 years service with the company.

Although he told radioinfo’s Peter Saxon in an exclusive interview upon his departure that it was not his decision to let Kyle and Jackie O go, as Head of Content he wore much of the public blame. He also wore criticism for rebranding the Today Network as “hit”. And plenty in the industry doubted that luring Hamish and Andy back to the national Drive show would have any significant impact on the beleaguered network’s fortunes. But on Tuesday all five hit stations rose on the back of strong gains in Drive after only half a survey of H&A behind the mic. 

What’s more, it can’t be called a one-off as it is already a second-off with all five hit stations having gone up in the previous survey, before H&A came on board.

“Craig would know, as we would, that this is a fantastic last book for him and his impact across the group,” says Dave Cameron, Head of Content for the hit network. His Triple M counterpart, Mike Fitzpatrick, agrees, “I think Craig would be proud. He was a part of rebuilding the hit network and bringing Hamish and Andy back. We’re proud of the work that he did as well.”

It is not just his colleagues that have paid tribute to CB’s contribution to SCA and radio as a whole, it is also his once rivals.

ARN’s Duncan Campbell had this to say, “I contacted Craig after he left and wished him all the very best. Its an impressive career and with many, many highlights scattered throughout both on the air and off the air. I have the utmost respect for the other group program directors in this country, so I wish him all the best.”

At Nova Entertainment, Paul Jackson said, “I think he was a giant figure in the industry long before I turned up. He’s got great prestige and heritage for many many years. I also know he’s made a huge contribution to SCA over the years and he is to be credited with much of the work they’ve done over the last few. I know him to be a terrific guy and a very good programmer and I wish him very well for the future.”