Jud Heussler Named Operations Director in Jacksonville
Cox Media Group promoted the former WAPE programmer to lead its local cluster of stations.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in People
Cox Media Group has appointed Jud Heussler as the new Director of Operations for its Jacksonville radio cluster. Heussler steps into the role following the departure of Jules Riley, who relocated to a position in Atlanta this past June.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a leadership shift for the media company as it looks to maintain programming continuity in the Jacksonville market. Heussler brings extensive industry experience from his tenure at multiple stations across the country.
Heussler brings significant radio experience, including eight years of work at WKSE in Buffalo and four years programming at WWPL in Raleigh. He previously served as the Director of Branding and Programming at WAPE 95.1 FM in Jacksonville since March 2021.
The players
Jud Heussler
He is the newly appointed Director of Operations for the Cox Media Group radio cluster in Jacksonville.
Jules Riley
He is the former operations director for the Jacksonville cluster who transferred to Cox Atlanta in June.
Cox Media Group
This major broadcasting company owns and operates a cluster of radio stations in the Jacksonville market.
The details
Heussler takes over the operations role at the Cox Media Group Jacksonville cluster after spending more than three years leading WAPE. His career includes a decade of experience across various markets before this promotion.
Timeline
March 2021: Heussler started as Director of Branding at WAPE Jacksonville.
June 2026: Jules Riley moved to a new role at Cox Atlanta.
September 28, 2026: The promotion of Jud Heussler was officially announced.
Market Landscape
The promotion follows the internal succession planning practices of Cox Media Group, which prioritizes elevating existing programming talent to leadership roles within its regional clusters. This move maintains consistency in the company’s competitive positioning against other local media owners.
Listeners and local stakeholders should not expect immediate changes to the station lineup or programming formats at the cluster. The appointment serves primarily to stabilize management after the recent leadership departure.
The takeaway
Effective management transitions are vital for local media organizations to retain listeners and maintain market share. Readers who follow local radio should watch for subtle programming evolutions as the new leadership team settles into their roles.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit the Jacksonville People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RadioInsight.
