Simons was awarded the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award for Programmer of the Year. In October 2006, the group acquired the Century brand from GCap Media, and in December 2006 Simons received a Fellowship from The Radio Academy, "an award to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry." On 25 June 2012 it was announced Global Radio (the owner of stations such as Capital and Heart) had bought GMG Radio, however the former will continue to operate separately until a regulatory review is carried out, Real Radio is thought to integrate into Heart. John left Real and Smooth Radio at the end of 2013 having left the stations on record Rajar results and re-entered the world of consultancy. References External links John Simons interview Living people British radio people 1956 births