Report: SVP/MM Rod Zimmerman OUT At CBS Radio Cluster

Rod Zimmerman

Longtime boss of CBS Radio Chicago and the cluster's top sales director have been forced out in the wake of revenue declines at the seven-station group they headed, according to Chicago Media writer Robert Feder.

Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago and a 38-year veteran of the company, was ousted along with Mark Day, vice president and director of sales for CBS Radio Chicago.

Scott Herman, chief operating officer of CBS Radio, disclosed the moves Wednesday in a meeting with local department managers. He cited the disappointing financial performance of the Chicago group under Zimmerman and Day, according to several of those present.

Herman told the managers he would introduce Zimmerman’s replacement at an all-staff meeting Thursday morning. No immediate replacement for Day is expected to be named.

In Chicago, CBS Radio includes News WBBM 780 AM  / WCFS 105.9 FM, Sports WSCR 670 AM, Top40 WBBM 96.3 FM, Alternative WXRT 93.1 FM 93.1, Country WUSN 99.5 FM,  and Classic Hits WJMK 104.3 FM.

Zimmerman, 63, who joined CBS Radio in 1978, has been vice president and general manager of WBBM Newsradio since 1998. He was promoted to senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago in 2003. Before that, Zimmerman headed CBS Radio stations KMOX in St. Louis and WWJ and WJOI in Detroit, and earlier served as general sales manager of WBBM.

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