Australian/New Zealander Andrew Jeffries has been appointed programme director of Emap Radio’s Kiss.
Jeffries, is currently programme director of Emap Radio stablemates Kerrang! Radio and Kerrang! 105.2, which he launched in the West Midlands in June 2004.
His new role will see him in charge of programming for Kiss 100 – the network’s London flagship station – as well as Kiss across the UK, broadcast via DAB, cable, satellite, Freeview and online.
Andrew Jeffries, has told radioinfo: “When Kiss 100 started as a pirate station in 1985, no-one could have predicted that it would be celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of the biggest national radio brands in the UK.
“Thanks to market leading distribution via digital, cable, satellite and online, listeners around the UK can now tune into the unique sound of dance music that can only be provided by Kiss.
“The challenge now is to continue to secure Kiss’ position as the number one youth radio brand and to continue introducing new and loyal listeners across the UK. We can do this by imaginative programming by day and the very best of specialist programming by night.”
Jeffries will report to Shaun Gregory, Emap Radio’s managing director of national radio brands.
Gregory says Jeffries is “one of the top radio programmers in the UK with a highly successful track record in youth radio. He has done an amazing job with Kerrang! 105.2 and in growing the national Kerrang! Radio network. His huge knowledge of creating exciting programming that delivers will be an invaluable addition to the Kiss team.”
Jeffries, previously a senior programmer at both Capital and Chrysalis, relocated to the West Midlands from Australia to launch Emap’s Kerrang! 105.2. He helped build the Kerrang! network to 1,118,000 listeners across the UK and 324,000 Kerrang! 105.2 listeners within the West Midlands (rajar Q1 2005) picking up 4 awards
and 3 Sony Award Nominations along the way.
Born and bred in New Zealand, Andrew Jeffries’s career has criss-crossed the equator with a host of senior roles in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
As well as launching Kerrang! 105.2 and Nova 937 in Perth, Australia, Andrew spent 18 months with the Chrysalis Radio Group rising to the position of regional PD for Galaxy 105 Yorkshire and Galaxy 102 Manchester. Whilst at Galaxy 105, Andrew grew it into the biggest station outside London.
Prior to his time at Chrysalis, he spent nearly three years with the Capital Radio Group in roles including PD for Southern FM in Brighton and PD for Beat 106 in Scotland. Jeffries will take up his new role on June 1st 2005. He replaces Simon Long who is joining Somethin’ Else.