Mayor Appoints Durkee Director of Strategic Communications

Mayor Kathy Taylor announced she hired former KRMG and Cox Radio News director John Durkee to join her management staff as Director of Strategic Communications.

“John has spent 20 years in the Tulsa community covering the news, and his experience is valuable to our management team. John will provide direction to the City’s communications team and help us tell our story to ensure the public has a greater understanding of their local government, its services and opportunities,” Taylor said.

Durkee, 53, joined KRMG in 1989 as a reporter, and then advanced to News Director in 1991. In 1998, he was named Director of News Service for the entire Cox Radio operation in Tulsa. His duties included overseeing the news operation, public affairs programming and FCC Community Service compliance for all Tulsa Cox Radio stations.

Prior to KRMG, he was the Operations Manager for a chain of radio stations in Missouri and Kansas. Durkee was also the News Director at KAKC and KBEZ in Tulsa and was a producer at KTOK radio in Oklahoma City.

“There is a renewed energy-and-spirit about this city that has been brought about by the Taylor administration. Tulsa is once again becoming the vibrant city I remember as a youth. I’m excited by the opportunity to help communicate the Mayor’s goals and this city’s accomplishments,” Durkee said.

Durkee will begin his duties on Monday, June 9. His salary is set at $95,000. Durkee will provide leadership to the Communications Department, which handles public affairs and media relations with the goal of raising awareness of services provided by City departments and Mayor’s initiatives. Kim MacLeod continues as manager of the Communications Department to oversee special events, creative and informational projects and campaigns. Durkee also will work to improve coordination of public information officers and marketing functions in all departments of the City, including Police, Fire, Performing Arts, Parks, Human Rights and the BOK Center.