Less than two weeks after a round of layoffs impacting multiple departments across the company, Audacy has made changes to its corporate leadership team. Barrett Media has learned that chief operating officer Susan Larkin has been let go from the outlet, ending her tenure with the company after parts of eight years. In addition, the company has moved on from J.D. Crowley, the chief digital officer and president of podcasts and streaming. The company also announced chief marketing officer Paul Suchman and executive vice president and general counsel Andrew Sutor have also exited.
As part of the restructure, Audacy has promoted Kelli Turner to president and CEO of the company, as well as Chris Olivero to chief business officer, Bob Phillips as chief revenue officer, and Mike Dash as executive vice president and general counsel.
“On behalf of the Audacy board, we are delighted that Kelli Turner has agreed to take on the permanent President and CEO role and lead Audacy through its next phase of reinvention and growth,” said Michael Del Nin, Chairman, Audacy. “She is an exceptional media executive who, along with Chris Oliviero and the rest of the Audacy team, will ensure we continue to invest in high-quality content to engage our audiences and provide best-in-class solutions to our partners.”
Larkin first joined Audacy in 2017 where she served as a regional vice president and briefly served as the market manager in San Francisco following the acquisition of CBS Radio. The company promoted her to chief operating officer in 2020, a role under which she has been working as the company has proliferated its brand while combating industry headwinds. Larkin signed a three-year contract extension with Audacy in the spring of 2023, and her deal was set to expire next May. The deal had automatic one-year renewals unless either entity involved provided a prior notice of a non-extension, according to an SEC filing filed by the company in June 2023.
Larkin sent a message to her Audacy colleagues via email obtained by Barrett Media.
“I’m writing to let you know that I’ll be leaving Audacy,” wrote Larkin. “I joined the company in 2017 during the Entercom and CBS merger, and it’s been an incredible journey over these past seven and a half years. I’ve had the opportunity to work with teams across the entire company, in all business units and markets. It has been an honor to lead such a strong, resilient, and passionate team here at Audacy. Together, we’ve celebrated successes, overcome challenges, and continue to make a real impact every day in the communities we serve and with the partners we engage.
I leave here proud of our culture and the role I’ve played in supporting many of you in your personal and professional growth,” she continued. “I’m confident in your future and will be cheering you on. I’ll be working with our leaders to transition over the next week and look forward to connecting with many of you individually.”
Turner, who has served on the Audacy Board since September 2024, has also served on the boards of directors of several advertising and music technology companies, including DoubleVerify, Downtown Music Holdings and Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. Turner was most recently Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Sun Capital Partners, a leading private investment firm.
“It’s a privilege to lead Audacy at this exciting moment in its impressive history and the evolution of audio,” said Turner. “This is one of the most dynamic businesses in media and entertainment, and I am looking forward to partnering with Chris Oliviero and all of our teams to build on our momentum with audiences, creators and advertisers. I’m especially excited by the appointments of Chris and Bob, who know Audacy’s businesses inside out and whose track records in management, programming and sales are second to none.”
Crowley started working for Audacy, then-Entercom, upon its acquisition of CBS Radio and has been working for the company over the last eight years. Confirming his departure on LinkedIn, he explained that it was time for him to proceed to his next chapter and would have more to share about what is next soon. Crowley signed a contract with Audacy divulged in an early 2023 SEC filing that was set to run through the end of next March. Under his leadership, the company grew its podcast studios and digital portfolio while continuing to enhance its app.
Oliviero has been working in the business for nearly three decades, serving in a variety of roles for CBS Radio over a 23-year stretch where he oversaw programming, content and sports strategy. After some time away from the company, he returned in June 2020 as the senior vice president and market manager for the cluster of eight radio stations in New York City. Oliviero was promoted to market president in 2022, a role in which he had oversight towards WFAN, WINS and WNEW among other outlets.
Philips joined CBS Radio in 1996 and later served as Chief Revenue Officer for CBS Radio and Entercom. Following Entercom’s rebranding as Audacy in 2021, Philips transitioned into his most recent role as President of Audacy Networks and Multi-Market Sales.
Mike Dash has been named Executive Vice President and General Counsel, succeeding Sutor, who will stay on for a transition period. Dash has been with Audacy’s companies for nearly two decades.
Audacy has continued to undergo alterations to its team following the resignation of chief executive officer David Field and chief financial officer Rich Schmaeling. Kelli Turner previously served as the interim CEO of the company in the months following its emergence from Ch. 11 bankruptcy proceedings, during which it reduced overall debt by 80% and attained a total net leverage of approximately 2.7x.
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