Ann Thomas has been promoted to Program Director for WJR 760AM, the legendary Detroit News/Talk station owned by Cumulus Media. This move makes Thomas the first female Program Director in the station’s 101-year history. Thomas previously served as Assistant Program Director and Executive Producer for WJR.
Thomas has spent her entire 40-year broadcasting career at WJR, starting as an intern in 1982 and eventually becoming a WJR News Reporter and Anchor. She has won several Breaking News and Auto Negotiations awards from Associated Press, United Press International, and Detroit Press Club.
“I am deeply honored to be promoted to WJR Program Director,” Thomas said. “WJR is THE Great Voice of the Great Lakes, and I am looking forward to serving our audience in any way I can.”
In 1999, Thomas was named Executive Producer of The Paul W. Smith Show and received multiple “Best Morning Show” awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, including in 2022 and 2023.
Thomas has also hosted several WJR shows, including The Healthy Woman Show, Opportunity Detroit, The WJR Gardening Show, and Women Who Lead.
Thomas has been inducted into the Michigan Business Women’s Hall of Fame. She was also the 2014 recipient of the Michigan Business and Professional Association’s Women and Leadership in the Workplace Award. She has received the prestigious “Diamond” award from the Association for Women in Communications. Thomas has helped WJR raise millions for various local charitable organizations.
Additionally, Mike Wheeler, former WJR Program Director, has been promoted to Operations Manager for Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor.
In this newly created position, he will manage operations for Cumulus Media’s four Detroit stations and four Ann Arbor stations. Wheeler, who is from Detroit, has over 20 years of experience in regional roles with Clear Channel Communications/iHeart Media in Toledo, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Hartford.
Steve Finateri, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor, said: “Ann Thomas is the heart and soul of WJR and has been deserving of this move for a long time. Her fingerprints are already all over this heritage, award-winning radio station, but we are all excited to see what the future holds with Ann in the driver’s seat!”
