Craig Couch Exits WLKR

Morning host and program director Craig Couch has left Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting AAA WLKR/95.3 Norwalk (and sister sports WLKR/1510 "ESPN 1510").

Unlike a number of recent radio departures, Couch tells OMW that the exit was his own idea, as he's leaving the radio business. He tells us:

All-in-all, my 10-year career (started at AM930 WEOL) has been a terrific experience. I can't say enough about the good people at WEOL, WNWV, WKFM, WLKR-FM & WLKR-AM. I am happy to call many of them friends.

That being said, this is a shrinking industry. Although I never felt my job was in immediate danger, I began to take a look at other opportunities outside of radio.

Those opportunities lead him to a new job he starts next week: as a financial advisor for Edward Jones.

Couch tells us his decision to change careers was prompted by the start of the current national economic downturn, and his desire to learn more about it. As he learned more, he started becoming interested in a career in financial planning.

He didn't tell us what happens back at WLKR, so we asked around back at his now former radio home, and it appears midday host Maggie Scott moves up to morning drive - with Couch's off-air programming duties split up among the current staffers...