Strategic partnership between Virgin Radio and Goom: Roberto Ciurleo appointed assistant director

Lagardère Active plans to continue and expand its digital-technology strategic partnership with Goom, and has appointed Goom co-founder and CEO Roberto Ciurleo as assistant director of Virgin Radio.

This enhanced cooperation will allow Lagardère Active to maintain Virgin Radio as a subsidiary. The station will thus benefit from Goom’s programming and digital expertise while also capitalizing on Lagardère Active’s strengths. The goal is to give Virgin – which has considerable potential – the resources to significantly boost its audience and revenues.

In this capacity, Mr Ciurleo will report to Richard Lenormand, executive director of Lagardère Active’s Radio and Television division.

Mr Lenormand says that he is “very pleased by this partnership with Goom. Virgin Radio now has the potential to considerably develop its audience. The first changes made to the station this summer, in cooperation with Goom’s staff, have already been favourably received by listeners. It’s the first step in the process of bringing Virgin Radio back to where it was.”

Mr Ciurleo is also satisfied with the move. “We sat down with Lagardère Active’s management to develop an approach that would allow our teams to work together. I am particularly proud to be part of this effort to boost Virgin Radio’s profile and to use our digital expertise to increase its Internet, social network and mobile telephone presence.”