It's a big change of scenery for arch-networker Miron, who will run the group's enlarged radio division following its acquisition of GCap Media. But he is extremely smart and ambitious and probably felt that, after five years as managing director of The Mail on Sunday, it was time to take on a bigger role of a type not immediately available at Associated.
Aside from confirming a story run by Media Week in May about Global seeking a big hitter to run radio in a senior ops role reporting to group chief executive Ashley Tabor - inexplicably aggressively denied at the time by Global and its PR company - Miron's move raises questions about the future structure of commercial operations at Northcliffe House.
It is ingrained in the fabric of Lord Rothermere's media empire that internal competition brings out the best in its brands and people. That flies in the face of what's going on at other newspaper groups, where brands are coming closer together and being sold as a package. What has happened elsewhere is unlikely to be replicated at Associated, but it could be time to look at joint client sales teams for example, though joint agency sales teams would be a step too far.
It is also not beyond the imagination to see one individual running it all, such as the Daily Mail's managing director Guy Zitter. Alternative options include elevating one of Associated's other MDs, Andrew Mullins at the Evening Standard or Steve Auckland at Metro, to Miron's vacated role. Then there's the second rung of executives, such as ad directors Simon Davies, John Teal or Rosemary Gorman. But it's more likely they would move over to the Metro or Standard if one of the other MDs stepped up to the Mail on Sunday job.
Associated could hire externally, though that is a longer shot. Or it could look at promoting someone else to the role who is well-regarded internally, such as group marketing services director Linda Grant - that's where some of the smart money is going at the moment.
