CHRIS Rowley, the new chairman of Mercury FM, is clear about his role as the radio station forges ahead under its new owners, the Kent Messenger Group. He intends to make people in the Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks areas feel that Mercury FM is "our local station".

He said: "I am delighted at being asked to chair Mercury FM, and intend to concentrate fully on getting the people of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks together. Since the Kent Messenger Group took over, the team at Mercury FM have dramatically changed the sound of the station in two ways.

"Firstly, the entire music output of the station has changed so that it will appeal to everybody in the area. And secondly, the news output has not only expanded, but most importantly, now carries a wide range of stories about people in the area."

He said: "Over the next six months, we will be developing a wide range of other ideas which will reflect all aspects of society, so that everyone in the local areas can be involved. One of the strengths of Mercury is that it has the long term commitment and investment of a local company, the Kent Messenger Group, to make it one of the best radio stations in the country."

Mr Rowley, 63, who has lived all his life in Leigh, near Tonbridge, has impressive broadcasting credentials. After leaving Cambridge, he went into Rediffusion Television where he introduced various innovations, including afternoon broadcasting.

He worked in US radio and television then became Jeremy Isacc's deputy at Thames Television in a department that, among others, produced World At War, as well as the long-running current affairs series This Week.

He moved to the Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1983 and was concerned with the start of many of the major changes to UK television, including the introduction of Channel 4, breakfast TV, independent producers, the major increase in local programmes, satellite TV and Channel 5. Leaving the IBA, he was the managing director of the first group applying for the Channel 5 licence, and was the chairman of West Kent Radio's application in 1992 and later deputy chairman of Sovereign Radio in Eastbourne.

He has also been president of the Media Society, founded The One World Broadcasting Trust; and is a member of The Radio Academy and British Academy of Film and Television, and has an honorary Doctorate from London Guildhall University for services to broadcasting.