Jeff J. Coelho, longtime broadcast executive, is returning to Island radio as general manager of Salem Communication's seven Hawai'i stations.

Coelho has been a member of Mayor Mufi Hannemann's Cabinet since 2005, initially as managing director, and executive adviser and director of the Customer Services Department for the past two-and-a-half years.

"I wasn't looking to leave the city, but Salem presented me with an opportunity that is very exciting," said Coelho in a statement. "While I will no longer be a member of the mayor's Cabinet, rest assured that I will continue to support him. This change allows me to work with one of America's leading radio broadcast groups and their seven great broadcast stations in Hawai'i, while taking an active role in my friend Mufi's campaign this year and in the years to come."

In his tenure with the city, Coelho is credited with restoring aloha to city services, modernizing and streamlining driver licensing and renewal and improving the service at Satellite City Halls.

As general manager of Salem here, Coelho — who has four decades of experience in Island radio — will oversee KAIM (95.5FM), KGMZ (107.9FM), KGU (760AM), KHCM (880AM), KHCM (97.5FM), KHNR (690AM) and KHUI (99.5FM).

The Salem offices are on King Street in Kalihi, a block from his alma mater, Farrington High School, so there's a feeling of a double homecoming. To radio, to Kalihi.

Joe D. Davis, president of Salem's Radio Division, said, "We are glad that we were able to coax Jeff out of Honolulu Hale and back to Hawai'i's radio industry. He is a thoroughly experienced broadcaster with a knowledge of the market and a depth of history in the industry that is exceptional."

Coelho was general manager of KOFY RADIO and general sales manager of KOFY-TV in San Francisco from 1986-987 and in 1987 and returned to Honolulu in 1987 and was manager and owner-operator of KUMU and KAHA radio. From 1988 to 2004, he was part of Visionary Communications' stable of stations, which included KQMQ, KPOI and The Bomb.

Coelho also served two terms on the Hawai'i Convention Center Authority and was chairman of the convention center's three-day grand opening in June 1998.