Cumulus VP/Country and WKDF & WSM-FM/Nashville OM/PD Charlie Cook will be leaving the company May 31. "Last April I let [Market Manager] Allison Warren, [Chief Content Officer] Brian Philips and [SVP/Programming Operations] John Dimick know of my intentions to find a new challenge," Cook says. "They asked me to give them a year. Well, here we are almost a year later and it's time for me to move away from an experience that I have loved for something new and different. Thanking everyone inside Cumulus and in Nashville would fill these pages so I look forward to personally thanking everyone over the next few months." The Nashville programming role has been posted here.

"Charlie Cook's accomplishments and awards are the stuff of Nashville legend," says Philips. "He is of course, in character, irreplaceable. I foresee a future where we will always rely on his wise counsel. He represents the gold standard among Cumulus employees. We are deeply grateful for his immeasurable contributions."

Warren adds, "Charlie has been a vital part of the Cumulus, and specifically the WKDF/WSM-FM, families for the past nine years. He has helped shape and drive the format of both 103.3 Country and 95.5 Nash Icon, bringing joy and entertainment to countless listeners. He is not only a talented professional, but also a loyal friend and a passionate music lover. We cannot thank him enough for his years of service, dedication, and creativity. We wish him the very best in whatever adventures are ahead. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten."

Cook joined Cumulus/Nashville as OM and WKDF & WSM-FM PD in 2014 (CAT 1/2/14) and was elevated to VP/Country two years later (CAT 1/26/16), a post he had previously held during an earlier tenure with Cumulus from 2006-2008. His prior stops include West Virigina Radio Corp.; McVay/Cook & Associates; KKGO/Los Angeles and Westwood One. He was honored with the Service Award from the Academy of Country Music last year, and is the organization's longest serving board member. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2011. Reach him here.