Audacy Chicago makes executive moves

Rachel Williamson promoted to President Of Local Sales Strategy and Innovation; Kevin Cassidy to succeed her as Chicago market president

Audacy Chicago announced Tuesday the promotion of Rachel Williamson to a newly created role as President Of Local Sales Strategy and Innovation from the Chicago Market President. Replacing her is Kevin Cassidy, who comes in from a similar role in Audacy’s New Orleans cluster. 

“We are thrilled to move Rachel into this new, important assignment,” said Audacy Chief Revenue Officer Brian Benedik, whom Williamson would report to. “Her leadership experience and expertise with linear and digital audio and video will be a tremendous asset to growing our local business across Audacy.”

“I am looking forward to working with our incredibly talented leaders across Audacy to continue positioning the company as a premier partner for our advertisers,” said Williamson.

Williamson came to Audacy in January 2020 as Market Manager – just two months before the pandemic took hold. In addition, Williamson also had regional oversight of the company’s clusters in Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St.Paul. Williamson held a variety of sales leadership roles with Nielsen, Cumulus Media, and Cox Media Group. 

Cassidy’s resume includes sales positions for Clear Channel Dallas from 2004 to 2005 and as General Sales Manager for CBS Radio/Audacy from 2009 to 2021, before taking over as market manager for its New Orleans cluster. 

“With an impressive multiyear track record of success overseeing our New Orleans cluster, Kevin knows how to grow brands and deliver performance,” said regional president Brian Purdy, to whom Cassidy would report. “We are confident that Chicago will continue to thrive under Kevin’s guidance.”

“It has been a remarkable experience representing our New Orleans brands over the last five years,” said Cassidy. “I’m excited to embark on the next chapter of my career and look forward to leading Audacy Chicago’s exceptional portfolio of stations.”

Audacy has seven stations in Chicago including all-news WBBM Newsradio; sports talker 670 The Score (WSCR-AM); Adult Alternative WXRT-FM; Top 40 B96 (WBBM-FM); Country US99 (WUSN-FM); and Classic Hip-Hop/R&B 104.3 Jams (WBMX-FM.) In the PPM survey for November, Audacy’s six stations racked up a 20.7 share of the audience with WBBM Newsradio’s duopoly (at 780AM and 105.9 FM) the highest-rated among the cluster.