NEW YORK - Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any other radio or television outlet, today announced that veteran venture investor Joseph Robinson will join the company as Executive Vice President of Strategic Development effective immediately. Robinson will report to John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and work closely with Brian Lakamp, President of Digital, and Tim Castelli, President of National Sales, Marketing & Partnerships.

Robinson brings more than 15 years of investing experience to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. In this new role, he will evaluate acquisition, equity and partnership opportunities in emerging, high-growth companies. As the EVP of Strategic Development, Joseph will place emphasis on finding companies with interesting and innovative new technologies that will help enhance Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s current distribution, digital and content offerings. Additionally, Robinson will explore opportunities for Clear Channel within other categories such as entertainment and consumer products.

“Joe has achieved many successes throughout his career in venture investing and his expertise will be a great asset to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment,” said Hogan. “There is untapped opportunity in the world of emerging companies and Joe is the perfect representative to help identify organizations with high-potential that will enable Clear Channel to continue to flourish as the leading media and entertainment company in America. We are excited Joe will be connecting us with innovative companies that can benefit from the power of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s multimedia assets and reach.”

“I am delighted to join Clear Channel Media and Entertainment at such an exciting time,” said Robinson. “The company’s unparalleled local and national platforms serve as powerful resources and will enable me to develop dynamic partnerships with a variety of fast-growing, high-potential companies. Clear Channel is assembling a great team of smart, creative people and I am excited to have been invited to join the group.”

Prior to joining Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Robinson founded Halo Venture Partners, a private venture capital company investing in digital media, advertising and media-related technology companies, where he continues to serve as a Managing Partner. Through Halo, Robinson has made a number of successful investments including Spongecell.com, iWin.com and Heartbeat.com. In 2011, Spongecell.com was ranked as the 76th fastest growing company in the United States by Inc.com and one of the top private companies in digital media by AlwaysOn Global 250.

Robinson’s other founding investment successes include Scout Media, a sports social network sold to Fox in 2005 for $56 million; UGO Networks, a male-targeted advertising network, which was sold to Hearst in 2007 for $80 million; and Signalray Media Consulting Group. In 1994, he co-founded InterWorld Corporation, an e-commerce application developer and solutions provider, which went public in 1998 and reached a market cap of $2 billion.

Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Skidmore College.