Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA) has announced the appointment of Eric Hamme as President of its Chicago market, marking a significant move for the out-of-home (OOH) advertising leader. In his new role, Hamme will oversee sales, marketing, real estate, public affairs, operations, and finance in the third-largest media market in the United States.
With nearly two decades of experience in advertising and sales, Hamme has built a reputation for crafting customer-centric strategies that drive revenue across local, regional, and national platforms. Over his seven-year tenure at CCOA, he has played a key role in leveraging technology, data, and OOH media to create measurable impact for brands across the company’s vast network of roadside, transit, and airport displays.
“As the advertising landscape continues to evolve, Clear Channel Outdoor remains committed to investing in growth strategies that push the OOH industry forward,” said Diane Veres, Regional President of CCOA-Midwest & Southwest. “Eric’s deep expertise in building high-performing sales teams, generating revenue, and cultivating strategic business partnerships will accelerate our momentum and ensure success for our brand, community, and municipal partners in Chicago.”
Leading One of CCOA’s Largest Markets
Hamme will helm one of CCOA’s most impactful markets, where the company’s OOH media footprint reaches 92% of the DMA 18+ population weekly (Sources: U.S. Census Estimates, 2021; Scarborough, Release 2, 2021 Chicago DMA). His leadership will focus on expanding CCOA’s Chicago portfolio, which includes roadside and transit assets as well as exclusive in-airport advertising contracts at Chicago Midway International Airport and O’Hare International Airport. With Midway seeing 1.8 million monthly passengers and O’Hare exceeding 6.7 million, Hamme’s role will be pivotal in shaping how advertisers connect with audiences on the go—whether they’re driving, walking, or flying.
“Since joining Clear Channel Outdoor over seven years ago, I’ve witnessed firsthand the rapid evolution of OOH advertising and how our company continues to pioneer innovations that elevate its role in today’s media landscape,” noted Hamme, President, CCOA-Chicago. “Chicago is a dynamic, high-impact market, and I’m excited to bring together our full suite of advertising solutions to drive meaningful impact for our partners and the local community.”
A Proven Track Record in Sales Leadership
Hamme’s advertising career spans multiple industries, including radio, television, digital media, and sports marketing. He joined CCOA in 2018 as a Local Sales Manager for Milwaukee, quickly rising through the ranks to Vice President of Sales in 2020 and later becoming Market Manager/Vice President of Sales in 2022, overseeing sales and business operations. Most recently, he served as Regional Director of Sales for CCOA-Midwest, where he led the region’s entire sales organization.
Before joining CCOA, Hamme held sales executive roles at Hearst Television, FOX Sports, Milwaukee Bucks Inc., and Entercom Milwaukee, gaining a wealth of experience across radio, TV, and digital advertising.
A proud Midwesterner, Hamme studied journalism at both the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with a minor in communications. He serves as board treasurer of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Wisconsin and is a board member of the Florentine Opera Company. Outside of work, Hamme’s wife, Elizabeth, is a radio and TV personality, and his son, Brayson, serves as a reservist for the U.S. Marine Corps.
With Eric Hamme at the helm, Clear Channel Outdoor Chicago is poised for a new era of growth and innovation, reinforcing its position as a leader in out-of-home advertising in one of the most influential markets in the country.
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