Connoisseur Media has announced a trio of promotions at its Connecticut and Long Island markets.
Following the promotion of Keith Dakin to SVP/Programming for the company, Ed Oliveira will succeed him as Operations Manager of the company’s Connecticut stations. Oliveira worked with Dakin as morning show producer at WDYL Richmond and as co-host/producer at WFNX Boston before moving to Connecticut as a producer, on-air talent, and production director. He most recently served as the head of the company’s Ferocious Content while still overseeing traffic and production.
Oliveira said, “I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to take on this expanded role. This feels like a natural step for me, and I appreciate Kristin Okesson for believing in me and my abilities. One person that has been a near-constant in my career is Keith Dakin. Having the opportunity to receive the baton from him and building on his work is a task I take on with pride. I am beyond excited to expand my role with the amazing people on this team. They are so good that operations could probably run on its own BUT I am ecstatic they chose me to oversee it.”
Former “107.1 The Boss” WWZY Long Branch NJ PD/morning host will join Connoisseur in the dual role of PD/midday host at Country “103.1 The Wolf” WWWF-FM Bay Shore NY and PD of AC “WEBE 108” WEBE Westport CT. Bridges was at WWZY from 2021 until the end of August. He previously programmed WEBE earlier in his career and has held programming roles as VP/Programming for MacDonald Garber Broadcasting in Traverse City MI, Director of FM Programming for Cumulus Media Detroit and Operations Manager of Townsquare Media Portsmouth NH, Program Director of AC 103.9 WFAS-FM White Plains NY, and APD of 95.5 WPLJ New York. He also hosts for Scott Shannon’s “True Oldies Channel” network and recently launched the weekly syndicated “Robby’s Top 20 Countdown“
Bridges becomes WWWF’s first Program Director following its flip to Country in February 2024. He supplants the exiting Alexa Neo in middays.
Bridges said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to join the team at Connoisseur Media during this exciting time! I’m looking forward to working with Patrick Shea on Long Island to grow 103.1 The Wolf/WWWF into one of the biggest country stations in America and also to return to guide the iconic WEBE 108 in Connecticut. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity, big thank you’s to Kristin Okesson, Keith Dakin and Jeff Warshaw for their belief in me. Let’s go!”
The company has also noted that Meghan Boyd, Director of Digital & Design for Connecticut, will add the same role for the company’s Long Island properties. She said, ““I’m excited to join the Long Island team and take on this new role as Connoisseur’s heritage markets of Connecticut and Long Island continue to work together. I’m very grateful to Jeff, Kristin and Connoisseur for the opportunity to start this new chapter and connect with the listeners and team on Long Island.”
Senior Vice President/Market Manager of Connoisseur Media Long Island and Connecticut Kristin Okesson stated, “The best part of my job is giving talented, passionate people opportunities to grow. For the last 10 plus years I’ve worked alongside Ed and Meghan, and without them, much of what we do in Connecticut wouldn’t be possible. Being able to expand their roles is incredibly exciting for me, and I’m also thrilled to bring back a former colleague, Robby Bridges. Robby’s expertise in country and AC radio will be highly beneficial for us at WWWF and WEBE 108. These are some of the hardest-working people in radio, and our team continues to grow stronger in Connecticut and on Long Island.”
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com