Bryce to go in GCap shake-up

by Media Week, Media Week 04-Oct-05, 00:01

Xfm managing director Graham Bryce has joined the growing list of former Capital executives to lose their jobs in the GCap Media shake-up, after turning down a change of a role within the radio network.

GCap has announced that Bryce, who is also managing director of GCap "development brands" Choice FM and Capital Gold, is preparing to leave the company, but a leaving date is yet to be finalised.

Bryce's departure is part of the network's strategic review, which saw the departure of ex-Capital Radio chief executive David Mansfield two weeks ago and former Capital commercial director Linda Smith last week.

GCap is seeking operational cost savings of £25m, with the loss of up to 100 jobs.

Bryce's departure marks a move away from the brand focus of the former Capital Radio group towards a focus on single stations.

The departures come at a key time for Xfm as it is set to launch into the Manchester market later this year after winning one of the new FM licences offered by Ofcom – a bid that Bryce was heavily involved in.

A GCap Media spokeswoman said the company was changing the structure of the management of the group and the way it did business.

"As part of the changes, we talked to Graham about a new role within the group, because we're not going to manage the brands in the way that Capital do it, so his role doesn't actually exist anymore," she said.