Ann Thomas Upped to Program Director for WJR-AM/Detroit

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, July 20, 2023 | 5:34pm CT

Ann Thomas

40-year industry vet Ann Thomas is elevated to Program Director for News/Talk WJR (760) in Detroit. The move establishes Thomas as the first female Program Director in the station's 101-year history. She rises from her previous role as Assistant Program Director and Executive Producer for WJR. Thomas started at WJR as an intern in 1982 and was then hired full-time as Producer of a WJR program called "The Other Side of the News."

Thomas went on to become a WJR news reporter and anchor, winning several AP, UPI and Detroit Press Club awards for breaking news and auto negotiations. In 1999, Thomas was named Executive Producer of the "Paul W. Smith Show," earning multiple "Best Morning Show" awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, including in 2022 and 2023. She also produced the WJR-MSU tailgate shows for 15 years from 2006-2021.

Thomas has also hosted several WJR shows including "The Healthy Woman Show," "Opportunity Detroit," "The WJR Gardening Show," and "Women Who Lead," which Thomas launched 11 years ago to highlight Michigan women from all walks of life doing great things in the community.

In 2019, Thomas was inducted into the Michigan Business Women's Hall of Fame and was the 2014 recipient of the Michigan Business and Professional Association's Women and Leadership in the Workplace Award. She also received the prestigious "Diamond" award from the Association for Women in Communications and was honored by Toastmasters District 28 with its Communications & Leadership Award. She has helped WJR raise millions for a myriad of local charitable organizations.

Concurrent with Thomas' appointment, Cumulus also promoted former WJR Program Director Mike Wheeler to Operations Manager of its Detroit-Ann Arbor markets. In the newly created position, Wheeler will manage operations for its four Detroit stations and four Ann Arbor stations. A Detroit native, Wheeler's deep broadcasting experience includes more than 20 years in regional roles with Clear Channel Communications/iHeartMedia in Toledo OH, St. Louis, Atlanta and Hartford-New Haven.

Cumulus Detroit-Ann Arbor Regional Vice President/Market Manager Steve Finateri saidm "Ann Thomas is the heart and soul of WJR and has been deserving of this move for a very long time. Her fingerprints are already all over this heritage, award-winning radio station, but we are all excited to see what the future holds with Ann in the driver's seat."

Finateri added, "In his new role as Operations Manager, Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor, Mike Wheeler will share a wealth of experience from his incredible career to help lever the resources we have in Detroit and enable WWWW-FM, WTKA-AM, WKQL-FM and WLBY-AM Ann Arbor to reach new heights."

Thomas commented, "I am deeply honored to be promoted to WJR Program Director. WJR is the "Great Voice of the Great Lakes," and I am looking forward to serving our audience in any way I can."