Radio boss in line for Hollick job

ROGER Parry, chief executive of US radio and outdoor advertising group Clear Channel International, has been approached to take over as chief executive at United Business Media when Lord Hollick retires next year.

Parry, who also chairs British local newspaper group Johnston Press, is understood to have been asked by headhunter Whitehead Mann, acting on behalf of UBM, if he would be interested.

Hollick announced this month that he was stepping down from the £1.6 billion publishing, broadcasting and market research firm. He will leave on his 60th birthday next May.

His announcement led to suggestions that UBM could be broken up and sold. The company-owns disparate assets including a 35% stake in television station Five (formerly Channel 5), pollster NOP and information firm PR Newswire. It also has extensive publishing interests in America.

Parry has been linked with a number of top media jobs in the past, including the chief executive's role at both ITV and Channel 4.

He started his career at management consultant McKinsey before joining advertising firms WCRS and then Aegis.

There are also two strong internal candidates to replace Hollick: UBM's chief operating officer Malcolm Wall and the company's chief financial officer Nigel Wilson.