Les Gunn
9 Bright Street,
DARLINGTON,
Co. Durham DL1 4EY
CURRICULUM VITAE
Tel. 07746 310 332
Email: [email protected]
2010
PERSONAL PROFILE
I’m an outgoing, disciplined and approachable person, with good teamwork and leadership skills - always willing to listen
and learn. I’m flexible and keen to embrace new challenges in the workplace and like to see projects through to the finish. I
possess a high aptitude level coupled with excellent broadcasting, training and interpersonal skills. Organised and focussed,
I am methodical and work well to deadlines and love those who have drive and enthusiasm on a given project.
INTERESTING FACTS
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8 years experience within the Police Service in North Yorkshire – both volunteer Special Constable and (4 years) as full
time Police staff working in a high pressure Control Room environment as a Communications Officer/Dispatcher from
2003-7 – involved in co-ordinating police resources to serious and potentially life threatening incidents and having an
overview on all of the response/liason with other Agencies including some elements of the Media.
Supervision, training and coaching/appraisal of personnel – responsible for setting personal targets, both in Sales,
Programming and PDR’s.
Force Co-ordinator with North Yorkshire Police for the Gay Police Association 2006/7.
25 years in depth knowledge of UK radio broadcasting, with Management expertise covering Programming, News,
Sales and Promotions. A Voiceover artist and currently presenting the 10am-2pm Weekdays on Star Radio North East.
One of the voices on the Grand Theft Auto 4 game in 2008.
Knowledge of most mainstream playout/automation, including Gabriel, EncoDad, Dalet and RCS and Edit suites
including Adobe Audition and Soundforge, along with Selector music software.
IT literate including Windows XP, Microsoft Office suites including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
Personal Details
UK Resident Age: 42 Marital Status: Partnered
Driving Licence: Full UK
Education:
1982-83 The Dene School, Baysdale Road, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees
GCE Pass in English Language – CSE/1 grades in Drama and grades in Maths, Geography, Technical Drawing and English Literature
Career History
October 2009 to now:
STAR RADIO (North East)
Daytime Presenter, Marketing & Promotions
Headhunted back to the North East to present 10am-2pm on Weekdays. I also co-ordinated the Marketing for the Station Launch in
November 2009, resulting in newspaper and tv coverage, along with a poster campaign on buses across the region. I look at future
marketing and promotional strategy with a view to implementing into programming and at brand level.
November 2007 to September 2009:
TRAFFICLINK (UK) LTD, Middlesbrough & Birmingham
UK Overnight Editor & Broadcaster
Collation of Travel news for local Media and Data clients, liaising with various Agencies, such as Police, Fire Service, Highways Agency,
callers reporting Incidents, Public Transport operators and Highways teams on emergency callouts and adding/updating information on
system databases. I presented live traffic reports for various clients, including the BBC and Commercial radio during my time with the
Company.
February 2007 to April 2008:
SUN FM, Sunderland
Daytime Presenter
I initially began as a Freelancer, presenting most daytime and weekend shows on the Schedule. From January 2009, I started working full
time for the station, presenting Weekdays 10am-3pm and Sunday Mornings. I was also responsible for producing and co-ordinating on
air promotions and feature material.
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July 2006 to Now:
LES GUNN.CO.UK
Sole Proprietor
I provide Voiceover services to clients in the UK, Europe and around the World via mp3 and ISDN.
December 2003 to November 2007:
NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE, Newby Wiske HQ, Northallerton DL7 9HA
Communications Officer Controller
Working in the Force Control Room, I dealt with taking 999 calls from the public and also co-ordinating police units to respond to
incidents. I had an overview on the Incidents and liaised with duty supervision regularly on more serious issues where more
resources/investigation is needed. I was also PNC trained, utilised the Forces’ own Intelligence system and other operational tools to
carry out my role effectively. I was responsible for introducing a Policy utilising the Forces’ own email system so that we could contact
the Media to inform them of road closures/incidents etc, instead of us having to field enquiry calls, which was proven to save hundreds
of employee hours each year and meant information flow was faster to those that needed it. I was also appointed the Force Coordinator for the Gay Police Association in 2006-7, meaning I represented the Force at Diversity Conferences and liaised with colleagues
on HR Diversity and implementation within the Force.
January 2004 to April 2009:
BBC RADIO YORK, Bootham Row, York YO30 7BR
Presenter/Producer
I presented Gunnys Game Show which aired each Saturday between Midday and 2pm from 2004-2005 and consisted of audience
participation via phone, email and text, through a simple quiz format. The audience figures for this grew by more than 60% over the
period I was there.
November 2003 to July 2006:
GARTLAND GUNN MEDIA LTD, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton on Tees TS17 0YA
Sales Director
I was responsible within the Company for promoting and marketing Gabriel playout software to local radio stations and broadcasting
companies across Europe.
January to September 2003:
FRESH RADIO LTD, Firth Mills, Skipton BD23 2PT
General Manager
Supervising a staff of approx 15 at this station which served the Yorkshire Dales, I was tasked with turning about a fall in audience and
decline in Sales through the introduction of new programming, a clear music policy and bold sales ideas/incentives.
September to December 2002:
CONSULTANCY/FREELANCE PRESENTATION inc Fresh Radio (as above)
September 1997 to August 2002:
STRAY FM LTD, Harrogate HG1 5YF
Programme Controller & Breakfast Presenter
During my 5 years with the station, I held the post of Programme Controller, seeing a significant rise in Reach from 33 to 37% and also
virtually doubling the Breakfast time RAJAR half hourly breakdown from 7,000 to nearly 14,000. I was also responsible for the set up of
the stations Sponsorship & Promotions arm, seeing a significant increase in Sales within a 6 month period. When the station was merged
into the Radio Investments Group, I became a Head of Music, covering 23 stations across the UK within a team of 3.
November 1995 to June 1997:
METRO NETWORKS (now Trafficlink), Middlesbrough TS1 2RQ
Regional Operations Manager (North East)
After my own operation was bought out, I was asked to head up the new North East operation for Metro Networks which provided the
broadcast and print media with a feed of traffic and travel information. Working with a staff of 10, I was responsible for the regional
output to radio, tv and the press in an area stretching from South Yorkshire to Northumberland. During my time there, I succeeded in
securing business from the Metro Radio Group, ILR stations across Yorkshire (now part of EMAP plc) and Tyne Tees/Yorkshire Television.
February to October 1995:
NETN (North East Travel Network), Middlesbrough TS5 8DE
Proprietor
Realising there was a niche in the market for scripted and accurate travel information, I set up my own service from home supplying
local radio, tv and the press across the North East with a fax/phone service daytimes Monday to Friday and as required outside of these
times. The business was then bought by and merged with Metro Networks in November.
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August 1989 to February 1995:
TFM RADIO, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees TS17 6AA
Presenter
I presented most programmes on the station, more notably Breakfast and the Phone In on weekday nights. I had consistently good
RAJAR/JICRAR and always seemed to be put into programmes where there was a dip in audience…!
August 1988 to July 1989:
RED DRAGON RADIO, Cardiff CF1 5YJ
Presenter
Finally landed a full time radio job – presented the Nightshift on weekdays and also the Breakfast Travel bulletins. I also hosted Sunday
afternoons.
PRIOR TO THIS…I had a mish mash of jobs – freelancing for Radio Wyvern, Worcester and Marcher Sound, Wrexham plus holding
several posts in the Hotel & Catering Industry – apparently I was the youngest ever Restaurant Manager at the age of 17 in Berkshire…!
The business didn’t close down by the way..!
Interests
A spiritual person, I love music of all genres, reading, travelling around the world, computers, watching comedy, good tv and films. I
enjoy dining out, good food, cooking and socialising with friends and family.
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