iHM Appoints Mike McGuiness As New CFO

iHeartMedia has announced the promotion of Executive Vice President of Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer Mike McGuinness to Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026. The move will relieve President, COO, and current CFO Richard Bressler of key C-suite financial responsibilities, allowing him to focus on operational and strategic priorities amid the company's ongoing recovery and digital expansion.

McGuinness, who has served as deputy CFO since joining iHeartMedia in 2019, will assume oversight of all financial operations, including accounting, tax, financial planning and reporting, treasury, shared services, real estate, and investor relations. 

Mike McGuiness

This promotion builds on his recent elevation to principal accounting officer in June 2025, following the transition of Scott Hamilton to a consulting role. Bressler, who has worn the CFO hat since iHeartMedia's 2019 emergence from bankruptcy, will retain his roles as president and COO while handing off day-to-day finance duties.

Industry analysts view the shift as a vote of confidence in McGuinness's track record. Prior to iHeartMedia, he spent over seven years at Monster Worldwide in roles including chief accounting officer and head of technical accounting, and served as senior vice president, chief accounting officer, and treasurer at The Hain Celestial Group. His 2024 total compensation topped $3.5 million, reflecting his central role in navigating post-bankruptcy challenges.

iHeartMedia, which operates more than 860 radio stations and dominates podcast distribution, faces headwinds from traditional ad market softness but is betting on multi-platform strategies like partnerships with TikTok and Amazon to fuel growth. Bressler's refocused leadership could accelerate these efforts as the company eyes 2026 profitability targets.