Simon Barnett. Photo suppliedSometimes, the timing is just right and for popular former local, Simon Barnett, that time is now.

The disc jock sent shockwaves up and down the country yesterday when it was announced that he would be leaving his regular slot on the More FM morning show and taking up a role within rival company, Newstalk ZB.

For 26 years thousands of New Zealanders, particularly those from the Canterbury region, have enjoyed Barnett’s dulcet tones in the morning on their annual pilgrimage to the workplace or as they potter around at home.

But after close to three decades of doing the same thing over and over again, he’s decided enough is enough.

And good on him too.

After being so successful, for such a long period of time it can’t have been an easy decision to change things up.

Not so much changing roles, but particularly changing companies.

Barnett has been the face of More FM for longer than most of us would care to remember.

It’s been his voice we’ve associated with the channel. And it’s been his delivery style and passion that has helped give the station a rise in popularity over an extended period of time.

The shift to Newstalk ZB will bring a new version of the now jovial and almost joking type of Barnett than we are used to.

A more traditionally straight station which tends to tackle the harder issues constantly, Barnett will have to adapt himself into a new version of himself and his success will be a measure of just how he handles that change.

He also joins a whole new stable of hosts. His right-hand man, Gary McCormick won’t be there for familiarity. Phil Gifford is nowhere to be seen either. So, it’s Si on his own, but not quite yet.

Yesterday’s announcement included the fact that he would remain with More FM until the end of 2018 before taking up his new role.

That should give enough time for his current employers to sort out a decent farewell.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 July 2017