After more than three decades shaping some of the nation’s top media properties, veteran executive Lee Davis has announced his retirement from his position as Senior Vice President of Sports Monetization at Audacy.
Davis shared the news in a reflective post on LinkedIn, marking the close of a career that spanned radio, television, and digital media. “I started my career getting Howard Stern coffee,” Davis wrote. “Now he’s still on the air, and going strong — and here I am — retiring.”
A 35-year media veteran, Davis has held leadership roles across some of the industry’s most recognizable brands. He began his career at WFAN in New York City, where he rose to Vice President and General Manager. During his tenure, WFAN became the number one billing radio station in the United States, solidifying its place as the nation’s premier sports station.
Bob Philips, Audacy’s Chief Revenue Officer said Davis was a valued colleague and leader whose experience, dedication, and steady guidance made a lasting impact.
“His contributions and presence will be greatly missed,” said Phillips. “Please join me in congratulating Lee on his retirement and in thanking him for his many years of service and leadership at Audacy. We wish him the very best in this next chapter.”
Davis later served as Executive Vice President of Sales for Univision Communications’ Local Media Division, overseeing the company’s Radio, TV, and Digital assets. Under his leadership, Univision experienced significant local media growth, as Davis guided the company’s efforts to expand its advertising footprint and drive cross-platform collaboration.
He also spent time as Executive Vice President at MediaCrossing, a programmatic digital media agency, where he helped the company navigate the rapid evolution of data-driven advertising. Most recently, at Audacy, Davis led national and local sales initiatives across sports, news, and entertainment properties, contributing to the company’s multi-platform growth strategy.
Throughout his post, Davis expressed deep gratitude for the people who shaped his journey, singling out mentors such as Joel Hollander, Jose Valle, and Robert Philips. He also credited former CEOs Mel Karmazin and Randy Falco with teaching him invaluable lessons in leadership, joking that he earned “a master’s degree in business — not from a university, but by working for two CEOs who challenged and inspired me.”
“Growing up in NYC and going on to lead WFAN, the greatest sports station in the world, is something that still feels like a dream come true,” Davis reflected. He thanked on-air talent, sales professionals, and behind-the-scenes staff who contributed to his success, saying their collaboration “shaped my journey in ways too many to count.”
While stepping away from corporate life, Davis emphasized that this is “not an ending.” He plans to focus on mentoring, charitable work, travel, and spending more time with his wife Lillian, whom he called “my biggest supporter, advisor, and partner through every step,” along with his children, their families, and close friends.
“Grateful for the past. Excited for the future,” Davis concluded. “I’ll be cheering for all of you along the way.”
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