Anthony Pugh, 50, who lives in Sulby, was this week revealed as the man who will take over from current managing director Stewart Watterson.

Mr Watterson will remain at the station, working with Mr Pugh, until his retirement in March.

The new managing director is impressed with the station's listening figures, stating: 'The people who have been here over the years have built that up. That doesn't happen overnight.'

He said his aim is to implement changes following last December's Tynwald debate on a £400,000 strategic review of the station.

It was agreed Manx Radio should focus on its news, current affairs and documentary content.

Tynwald agreed a £300,000 payment and increases in the taxpayers' money handed out to the station annually, which will see the level rise from £245,000 last year to £847,000 in two years' time.

Mr Pugh said the station has just appointed a new community programme editor, former Mandate presenter Roy MacMillan, and a youth producer will also be appointed.

Mr Pugh, who was brought up in Anglesey and moved to the Island just weeks ago, has a long and distinguished career in radio.

In 1974 he joined the BBC as a trainee studio manager and moved to Radio 1 to produce when Noel Edmonds, Peter Powell, Bruno Brookes, Adrian Juste and Anne Nightingale were all household names.

He later worked with John Dunn and Gloria Hunniford at Radio 2.

In the mid-80s he worked for BBC Radio International and, as editor, was instrumental in making the operation profitable and played an important part in developing the BBC's coverage of the Glastonbury Fest-ival.

In 1998 he set up an international product team in the BBC's music production department and, within a year, went on to become executive producer, business development and multimedia.

Mr Pugh left the BBC in February 2001 to pursue a role as a freelance consultant working mainly with media and multimedia educational companies.

He said anyone who came into a station and changed it without good reason would be a 'very foolish person'.

Mr Pugh said his role is one of 'evolving the station and not of starting a revolution' but added changes are inevitable.