• by Erik Sass , April 16, 2012

Seeking to stay abreast of the digital transformation in media consumption and advertising, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment (previously Clear Channel Radio) has created a new national sales group dedicated to multiplatform marketing. This is the latest in a series of major realignments within the company following the appointment of Bob Pittman as CEO of parent company CC Media Holdings in October 2011.

The new national sales division brings together a number of overlapping national assets, including Clear Channel Digital, Strategic Partnerships, Clear Channel Connections, Clear Channel Radio sales and Premiere Radio Networks ad sales.

It is headed by Tim Castelli, who has been promoted from executive vice president for digital sales to president of national sales, marketing and partnerships. As EVP, Castelli was previously responsible for developing an ad sales platform for the company’s growing iHeartRadio platform -- a task that will now fall to his successor in the EVP, who has yet to be named. Before joining Clear Channel, Castelli served as vice president of sales for AOL's Eastern U.S. region.

Clear Channel also announced several new executive appointments as part of the national sales shakeup.

Holly Lang, previously the associate publisher for brand development for Conde Nast’s Lucky, is joining Clear Channel Media and Entertainment as senior vice president for marketing solutions. Chris Monteleone, formerly vice president for strategic relationships at Madison Square Garden, has been hired as senior vice president for event sponsorship sales and development, building on the momentum of high-profile events like the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

Also, Kevin Dorsey, formerly president of traffic, navigation and mobility, is taking on additional responsibilities as president of national media groups, where he will oversee Katz Media Group and Premiere Radio Networks in addition to his previous traffic division duties. At the same time, Charlie Rahilly, Clear Channel’s president for national ad platforms, is leaving the company.

The executive appointments are part of a continuing overhaul of the company led by CC Media Holdings CEO Bob Pittman. These strategic moves have included the creation of a new national programming platform team and new brand management team, the rebranding of Clear Channel Radio as Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, and the appointment of music industry veteran John Sykes as president of the newly created Clear Channel Entertainment Enterprises.

These changes come in the midst of Clear Channel's push into TV and live events, part of its ongoing effort to expand beyond broadcast radio and transform itself into a multiplatform digital content company.