XFM recruits new programme director - and kids?

Adam Uytman, formerly of Emap's Kerrang! radio in the West Midlands, has been recruited as programme director for Xfm London.

The news comes as the station's first national ad campaign in five years launches, featuring children working for the station as producers and roadies.

The two-month campaign, created by ad agency Mother, goes live on Friday, and also features appearances by DJ Richard Bacon and bands Hard-Fi, Elbow and Lostprophets.

Uytman said: "I'm very excited at the prospect of working with the team at Xfm in London. It's a great station with a load of potential - the Xfm brand as a whole has grown along with the explosion of the music scene that it is at the very heart of, making it a great time to join."

At Kerrang! Uytman led his team to win four Sony Gold radio awards this year. Before becoming programme director, he was head of music at Kerrang! Radio UK, and music programmer at Beat 106, now Xfm Scotland.

Uytman starts his role in the new year, and replaces Andy Ashton who left the GCap-owned Xfm last week by mutual agreement.·

Xfm Network managing director Nick Davidson said: “Adam's knowledge, skills and programming ability, plus his haul of four Sony Gold awards this year, show this is a radio programmer at the top of his game."