McKay, previously director of international sales and head of UK client sales at CBS Outdoor, will take up the role on 1 September, reporting to Clear Channel managing director Rob Atkinson.
McKay is currently on gardening leave.
Atkinson said Clear Channel's international business has posted "huge growth" and the company is keen to promote its presence in London, particularly its premium Pinnacle portfolio.
McKay's appointment comes two months after Atkinson was promoted to managing director from group sales director, reporting to Barry Sayer, regional Clear Channel president for the UK, Ireland and North Africa.
Sayer told Media Week at the time that Atkinson's promotion could prompt a rethink of the company's sales and marketing operations, leading to a possible realignment of responsibilities. Atkinson, who joined Clear Channel in 2005 from Associated Newspapers, has not yet been directly replaced.
The UK managing director role had been redundant since April 2006, when former managing director Julie France, now managing director of JCDecaux Airport, resigned. Sayer then joined the firm as interim chief executive in the UK, absorbing her responsibilities.
McKay's appointment comes as uncertainty continues over the planned sale of CCO parent Clear Channel Communications to private equity partners Thomas H Lee and Bain Capital. Under the terms of the original deal, agreed in November 2006, the acquisition was meant to be completed by 31 March this year. However, the deal has been on ice for several months amid a series of court hearings, with Bain and Lee accusing the banks of reneging on their promise to fund the deal.
_1.jpg)
.jpg)