Radio Jamaica Celebrating 70 Years

Sunday July 4, 2021 Page 11 Inside Management with DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP Natonia Sylva, Deputy General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Radio and TV services Claire Grant General Manager, Radio and Television Services I n 2019 when CEO Gary Allen asked Claire Grant to assume the reigns of Radio Services, alongside Television Services which she was already piloting for the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, she said it was an exciting challenge. Mrs. Grant would be the first female and third General Manager for the combined Radio Services in the group after Francois St. Juste 2007 to 2016 and Dr. Dennis Howard 2016 to 2019. The combination of radio and television under onemanagement portfolio was the product of a restructuring exercise that aligned explosive synergies within the organisation. This alignment starting at the top, was to unearth potent efficiencies. This was meant to facilitate creative, seamless cross-fertilisation, that would strengthen and benefit these twin pillars that are the Broadcast arm of the group. Mrs. Grant started her career in media in 1990 at The Gleaner as a journalist. At the Gleaner she reported on the Daily Gleaner and Sunday Gleaner, was Overseas Publications Editor and finally editor of the Star for ten years before transitioning to Television Jamaica as the Marketing and Sales Manager in 2006 and TVJ General Manager in 2012. “The offer to lead the Radio Services in the RG Group at this particular point in its history is an honour, a privilege and an experience that can only be fulfilling for the team and me,” said Mrs. Grant. The trifecta structure for Broadcast Services top management includes the General Manager and two Deputy General Managers, Natonia Sylva Marketing and Sales and Trevor Johnson, Outside Broadcast. Even though the appointment came with significant challenges she was not daunted. “Everyone knows that I am passionate about my job and love to win. The thought of working with ‘THE’ Radio Jamaica brand is a task that just inspires you to do your best every day,” she said. “One of the most exciting things we have done so far was the rebranding of the 94FM brand from RJR to its original name Radio Jamaica. This was a subtle but important move because Jamaica is so central to the essence of what this brand represents, always being active for the good of our nation as our new tagline proudly asserts,” she added. “The arrival of the pandemic has underlined the new tagline for the 70-year-old radio brand as the country’s first commercial radio station, Our delivery this time underscores our raison d’etre because we are Radio, Jamaica,” Mrs. Grant said. G ood media works with fantastic personalities and impeccable technical support…but great media needs the glue of marketing to make everything click and stick. For Radio Jamaica 94FM Natonia Sylva is that glue. Ms. Sylva is the Deputy General Manager, Marketing and Sales for Radio and Television Services. She leads the direction of five Broadcast brand teams in the group. “Getting the best to happen for clients and the brand is a never ending challenge,” said Ms. Sylva who has more than 16 years of experience in marketing and sales of Broadcast media in Jamaica. “But we have such a committed team and such a powerful brand that it is truthfully hard but fulfilling work,” she said. The ten strong marketing team that she leads for Radio Jamaica is required to maintain a close working relationship with its various advertising partners, whether direct clients, or advertising agencies. This relationship is not bound by time as whenever required the experienced team of account executives is available to advise on the best advertising solutions and how to maximise the value of their spend. This, however, is just a fraction of what the team does. “Our account executives are well rounded as they must also work closely with the Programmes department to ensure that what is onair is attractive to clients,” Ms. Sylva shared. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has really unearthed the resilience that radio is made of. Even though outside broadcasts have become less common, the team here at Lyndhurst has been ideating non-stop on the ways to make things work for clients. Now more than ever our clients need and depend on the support from a brand like Radio Jamaica to transmit their messages. Marketing also has a close relationship with the Traffic Department, which is responsible for ensuring that advertising gets on air in the right time slots daily. This is an intricate dance that requires patience and compromise, as clients will often send late bookings or request last minute changes to their advertising schedules which the team tries to accommodate and execute as requested. However, Marketing and Traffic’s commitment to getting all placements right is always top of mind. “Keeping an established brand at the top of its game is never easy,” however, Radio Jamaica 94FM has a dynamic and reliable track record that is second to none. Seventy years of first class broadcasting standards, credibility, trustworthy news and being the home of iconic moments in the nation’s life, does make a marketers job a little easier,” Ms. Sylva said. “Marketing is an unsung giant of broadcasting.”