Simone Meijer will stop as channel manager at NPO Klassiek on June 1. She was station manager at the public radio station for more than five years. Simone will become director of Stichting Omroep Muziek (SOM), of which the Netherlands Radio Choir and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra are part.
Under the leadership of Simone, NPO Radio 4 changed its name to NPO Klassiek. “Not just a name change, but in my view an essential step for the future,” she said in a statement. “We have great public value and bring classical music to a wide group of listeners. That audience does not always turn on the radio, but is curious and wants to discover.”
Challenges ahead
She calls Hilversum ‘a dynamic working environment’. “As a channel manager you face quite a few challenges. You can only do that if you know that you have a team that trusts you, supports you and thinks along with you. I have always felt that, even with difficult issues or decisions. Thanks for that.”
“In recent years I have had great pleasure working with all colleagues at the NPO,” says Simone. “A lot has happened in that time: not only in programming but certainly also on demand, online, in specials, our theme weeks, concert series, podcasts and so much more. Corona, wars, natural disasters and a lot of other misery cycled right through that. But we bravely persevered and offered peace, beauty and comfort. We still do that.”
‘Excellent channel manager’
Jurre Bosman, director of NPO Audio: “For more than five years, Simone has worked to make NPO Klassiek a place where young and old feel welcome to enjoy the most beautiful classical music. I will miss Simone as an excellent channel manager and as a great colleague, who always provided constructive input within the NPO about the future of our audio portfolio.”
It will be announced at a later date who will take over the channel management of NPO Klassiek.
Photo: NPO/Michel Schnater
