O'Connell, who presents the breakfast show on the London-based new-music station, won Best Breakfast Show, Best Entertainment Award and Best Competition Award for Rock School.
Capital FM's Johnny Vaughan, who saw his audience rise by 108,000 in the latest set of Rajars, was tipped to get the prize after an impressive year at the London-based station.
By contrast, Xfm's breakfast show lost listeners and O'Connell in comparison with Vaughan is a relative unknown, having joined Xfm in 2001 after stints on local radio and as a failed stand-up comedian.
The judges had nothing but praise for O'Connell. "There is a touch of genius to Christian's approach to improvisation and presentation that really sets him apart," they said.
Other winners include New Zealand-born Zane Lowe, who presents BBC Radio 1's evening show four times a week. Lowe picked up the Specialist Music Award and Best Music Broadcaster Award.
BBC radio stations secured 21 of the 32 gongs on offer. Radio Five Live won Best News Story Award for its tsunami coverage; Radio 2's Jeremy Vine won Best Speech Broadcaster; and Radio 4's Eddie Marr won Best News Journalist.
Elsewhere, Kerrang! won Best Music Show for its Drivetime with Lucio and Danny Baker on BBC London 94.9 won Best DJ of the Year.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)