I'm Berner, I'm Berner, I'm Berner For You: "Under Lew Dickey's leadership, the Cumulus team has built a formidable national and local footprint," says board Chairman Jeffrey Marcus. "However, maximizing the value of these assets requires making them work together effectively and efficiently. At a time when the media landscape continues to undergo seismic transformation, Cumulus needs a broad-based media operator who can leverage its outstanding resources ... and capitalize on the industry’s strong fundamentals." That broad-based operator is new CEO Mary Berner, who has been on the board since May and brings extensive experience in magazine publishing to her new post. Meanwhile, Dickey is leaving his executive role to be board Vice Chairman (Breaking News 9/29).

Further, in an internal memo from Dickey and Marcus, Berner is credited with leading an Operations Review Task Force. "She and her committee did an outstanding job and the results of this review will significantly benefit Cumulus going forward – both operationally, and as we leverage the company's considerable assets to become a highly competitive next generation multi-platform media company."

For her part, Berner says she is "eager to work with the board and the company's talented teams to implement Lew's vision ... I have insight into the issues that Cumulus faces, but I also know the operational leverage that can be generated by first focusing on execution."

In a memo to employees, Dickey says, "As a founder, and on behalf of my family as the second-largest shareholder of the company, I'm confident that our best days are ahead of us. I look forward to supporting our talented team in my role as Vice Chairman as we all work together to continue building this great company."