Darren Davis To Exit iHeartMedia

Darren Davis, who has been  president of iHeartRadio for nearly eight years, has announced his intention to exit the company after a nearly 30-year run. His current four year contract expires in August 2021.

Davis started his radio iHM (formerly Clear Channel) career in 1992 at WASH-FM in Washington DC. He became SVP of National Programming starting in 2008, and EVP/GM starting in 2011. He became President of iHeartRadio in 2014. Davis managed iHeartRadio through years of dramatic growth and innovation.

Darren Davis

In February 2021, iHM reorganized with the formation of two reporting units: the Multiplatform Group and the Digital Audio Group. In the new structure, Davis was repositioned as Chief Operating Officer of the Digital Audio Group. Conal Byrne, head of the acquired Stuff Media Group and subsequently named President of the iHeartPodcast Network, was named CEO.

Davis relocated from New York to Nashville last year to oversee the buildout of a new digital headquarters for the company.   Permiere Radio's  The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show and The Bobby Bones Show originate from Music City.

iHM CEO Bob Pittman and President/COO Rich Bressler made the announcement in a staff memo issued today: 

Team,

We want to share some news with you about Darren Davis, Chief Operating Officer of our Digital Audio Group. Darren, who is a longtime and valued member of iHeart senior management, has decided to step down from his role after nearly three decades with our company, effective January 1, 2022.

Anyone who knows Darren knows he has a deep love for iHeart and a true passion for our business and our success, and he’ll be continuing with the company as an advisor when he steps down as Chief Operating Officer next January.

Darren first joined our WASH-FM in Washington, DC as a programming team intern in 1992, and in essence has grown up through our organization – continually taking on new roles and more responsibility and becoming a critically important contributor as part of our senior team. Now, after almost 30 years with iHeart, Darren is looking forward to spending more time on a variety of other projects he’s passionate about, including real estate development, local community projects and traveling with his family. Although his day-to-day operating expertise will be missed, we appreciate all he’s done for our company and are very pleased that he will continue his association with us, albeit on a more limited basis.

Darren will remain active in his role through the end of the year, and he will be working closely with Conal Byrne, CEO of our Digital Audio Group, through the balance of 2021 to continue our momentum and to effectively organize the Digital Audio Group for the future.

We know you will join us in thanking Darren for his many contributions to building iHeart, and in wishing him the best of luck on this new path!

Bob and Rich