Nine Radio has revealed the final piece of its line-up puzzle as the network looks to rebuild its on-air ranks following the unexpected departure of two of its key hosts.
Clinton Maynard has been given the task of taking on its flagship station’s critical drivetime show in Sydney full-time after impressing Nine’s top brass while filling in over the summer break.
Breaking the news live on-air on Friday morning, Maynard told fellow newly installed host Mark Levy the move came as ‘a bit of a shock’ and was massively honoured to be given the opportunity to take on the coveted timeslot.
‘When I was 15, in 1991, I did work experience in at 2GB when it was in Sussex St and I spent a week with the Drive Show,’ the father-of-three said.
‘To be appointed to present that same show, three decades later, is a dream come true – it’s a pinch myself moment.’
Maynard went on to thank Nine Radio boss Tom Malone, head of content Greg Byrnes and content manager Luke Davis for giving him the chance to host his own show.
‘I can’t wait to talk about what matters to our Sydney listeners every day and have a few laughs along the way,’ he said.
The Cronulla Sharks tragic’s appointment firms up the station’s line-up before the first official ratings survey period begins next week as the talkback team, led by breakfast radio star Ben Fordham, fires up ahead of the looming federal election.

Award-winning journalist Clinton Maynard will take on 2GB’s coveted drivetime timeslot

Maynard’s appointment comes as the final piece of the 2GB line-up puzzle as the talkback team, led by breakfast radio star Ben Fordham (right) and Nine Radio head of content Greg Brynes (pictured), fire up ahead of the federal election
Talkback titan Ray Hadley farewelled Nine’s flagship Sydney station 2GB after two decades behind the mic at his top-rating morning show last month after he announced he was resigning from radio after 43 years in the industry.
Within hours of Hadley wrapping up at the station on the final day of the ratings season, the station’s hard-hitting drivetime host Chris O’Keefe stunned listeners be revealing he was quitting effective immediately.
The surprise exits set off a major reshuffle within the radio powerhouse as the network’s executives scrambled to install new hosts .
Popular Wide World of Sports presenter Mark Levy was given the challenge of taking over from Hadley while sports reporter Adam Hawse was promoted into his old job.
Speculation surrounding O’Keefe’s replacement has run rampant over the summer break with names such as former 2GB wunderkind Jason Morrison and The Daily Telegraph’s James Willis also touted as potential options.
Maynard joined the 2GB’s sister station and one-time rival 2UE as a cadet journalist in 1997 before going on to cover the crime and politics rounds and eventually being promoted to news and content director.
As a presenter, he has hosted News Talk programs on 2UE, Macquarie Sports Radio and 2GB, where most recently he has been the Weekday Overnights host and the regular fill-in presenter on 2GB Drive.
Station veteran John Stanley will fill in for Maynard for a week before takes the reigns as the host of the eponymous Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard show from on 27 January.

Chris O’Keefe quit 2GB in December so he could spend more time with his ‘extraordinary’ wife Yvonne Sampson (pictured together) and their young son, Henry

The loved-up couple welcomed their baby boy Henry almost two years ago (pictured)
2GB Content Manager Luke Davis said that, in the end, Maynard was the obvious option for the coveted timeslot.
‘Clinton is a talk radio specialist – he has dedicated his life and career to the medium and knows how to tell a story, entertain and connect with audiences,’ he said.
‘As we enter this new era of 2GB Drive, and a federal election year, there is no-one better placed to dissect the issues that matter to Sydneysiders on their drive home.’
O’Keefe told listeners he had been wrestling with the decision to quit for months before finally deciding it was time ‘to move on’ and resigning from the station – and journalism completely – in December.
‘As much as I have enjoyed my time here at 2GB and my 13 years at Nine, the time is right for me to make the call to move on.’
The father-of-one said he was looking forward to spending more time with wife Fox League presenter Yvonne Sampson and two-year-old son Henry, and wanted to offer his own family the same care and attention he received growing up.
‘Personally, I just want to thank my mum and dad Shellie and Greg who instilled a work ethic and decency into my sister Lauren and I, which has allowed us to do what we do,’ he told his listeners.
‘I often think I wish I could be the parent that Mum and Dad were to me – but I realise that is a very high bar, because they are just so good.

Chris O’Keefe says his wife Yvonne (pictured together) taught him the meaning of resilience
‘And, look, I would be nothing without my wife, Vonny. She is the most extraordinary human being.
‘She is easily the most talented and respected sports broadcaster in Australia, but people don’t know the half of it.
‘Vonny has taught me a resilience that I didn’t know I had in me. Her resilience and kindness is other worldly. My God I am lucky.
‘It’s funny we got together when I was a cub reporter, and Vonny hadn’t started doing the rugby league broadcasts.
‘And every step of our lives together she has celebrated and supported our successes. It’s been 12 years and it feels like it’s been five minutes.
‘That’s gotta be the mark of a great relationship, right? I love her so dearly I know how lucky Henry and I are.’
O’Keefe, who cut his teeth as a television producer with Channel Ten before being poached by Nine’s Gold Coast bureau, said he would still have some involvement with the media moving forward after deciding to set up his own political and media advocacy firm.