Name Francis Currie
Position International Radio Consultant
Company Francis Currie Consulting
Country United Kingdom
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Biography

Francis Currie is an International Radio Consultant and Coach with over thirty years professional radio experience. He is also a partner in specialist radio research company, Currie Nordén. He specialises in providing strategic insight and operational support to radio stations in competitive markets around the world. He works across Research, Programming, Promotions and Digital activity. 

Francis has worked in over 15 countries with a wide variety of formats. He was named ‘one of the radio industry’s best consultants’ in a poll by US industry magazine Radio Ink. Prior to becoming a consultant Francis had a successful track record as a senior programmer in the UK. 

Recently, as Group Content Director for Wireless (part of News Corps) he drove audience growth across the portfolio of 33 radio stations across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. He was responsible for quadrupling the listening to Virgin Radio UK in just six months by recruiting the Chris Evans Breakfast Show from Europe’s largest Breakfast Show, on BBC Radio 2. He was also the mastermind behind digital brand extensions Virgin Radio Anthems and Virgin Radio Chilled. 

As Programme Director for Heart in London, he led the radio station to #1, beating Capital FM for the first time in its 30-year history. Later, As Group Programme Director, he masterminded the success of the Heart brand as a network. 

Before working at Heart, Francis was Music Director for Emap Performance where he drove the content strategy across radio, tv, magazines, websites, compilations and concerts. Prior that, he was the joint Managing Director and Programme Director of Emap Television. There he led The Box to #1 Music Channel, beating MTV & VH-1. He also developed the brand extension model for the subsequent launches of KISS TV, QTV and others. Previously, Francis was launch Programme Director of Magic in London. He proved it is possible to rebrand a radio station, save costs and grow audience at the same time.