THE MAN who dismissed a plethora of presenters at Scotland's newest
radio station was out of the door himself yesterday.
Scot FM announced that its managing director Tom Hunter had resigned
''for personal reasons'' but the alacrity of his departure suggests
deeper disagreements with its new owner Grampian Television.
The Herald understands his leaving was prompted by a meeting in
Aberdeen on Tuesday between Mr Hunter and Scot FM chairman Donald
Waters, also chief executive of Grampian TV.
In a brief statement, Mr Waters said: ''We are grateful to Tom for all
his hard work in establishing Scot FM. We wish him all the very best in
his future career.''
The station was launched in September last year with Mr Hunter at the
helm of operations. He hired many personalities, including Margo
MacDonald, Kaye Adams, Donnie Munro, Bruce Findlay, and most recently
Alison Craig.
They and others all left soon after their appointments. Although Mr
Hunter exuded considerable charm, there were many who objected to his
managerial style and the manner in which he sacked people. This prompted
some letters to the Scot FM board.
The arrival of the controversial disc jockey Scottie McClue helped
boost weekly listening figures to 350,000 in May this year and were
praised by chairman Sir David Steel.
However, Sir David was replaced by Mr Waters soon afterwards after
Grampian acquired the 35% stake in Scot FM.
Heavy start-up costs at the radio station cast a shadow over
Grampian's annual profits and there were further ructions in the
North-east when Scot FM won the commercial radio franchise for live
reports from Scottish matches. Unfortunately, its broadcast area does
not extend to the North-east and its rival NorthSound is a sponsor of
Aberdeen FC.
Grampian's director of television, Mr Bob Christie, was brought in
yesterday to act as temporary replacement, pending the appointment of a
new managing director.
Mr Richard Findlay, managing director of Radio Forth, one of the main
rivals to Scot FM, said yesterday: ''Despite all the difficulties with
the station, we always had a good personal relationship. Tom is a
talented man and I am sure he will get another job.''
Mr Hunter was not available for comment yesterday at his rented home
at Sandport, Leith, nor at the executive flat nearby which he had
recently purchased.
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