Directorate Change

RNS Number : 1912D

Future PLC

26 March 2014

 

26 March 2014

Future plc

Change of Directorate

Future plc (LSE: FUTR), the international media group and leading digital publisher, today announces that CEO Mark Wood is stepping down from his current role and as an executive Director, and will be appointed as a non-executive Director of the Group.

He will be replaced by Group CFO Zillah Byng-Maddick. The Board has also appointed Simon Poulton as interim CFO. He will not join the plc Board but will report directly to Zillah Byng-Maddick. All changes take effect from 1 April 2014.

Future Chairman Peter Allen said: "The Board would like to offer its sincere thanks to Mark for setting the pace of Future's digital transformation. The digital growth which Mark has overseen is unprecedented in our sector, and his focus on driving change across the business continues to deliver efficiencies and opportunities. I am grateful that we will retain his services as a non-executive Director.

"Zillah has a proven track record in delivering successful digital transition. And she is the perfect candidate to accelerate the business through its next phase, with a clear focus on right-sizing the organisation and improving margins for the long term."

Mark Wood said: "Zillah has made a tremendous impact at Future and this is the ideal time for her to lead the company forward. I am delighted to remain involved in the business and to give her continuing support."  

Zillah Byng-Maddick said: "Future is an excellent business going through fast transition thanks to Mark's leadership. We have considerable momentum and market-leading content that has high impact with a global audience. I look forward to leading the business through the next phase of its evolution."

Future also announces that Seb Bishop is retiring as non-executive Director with effect from 1 April. Seb has been a director since June 2007. Peter Allen said: "We thank Seb for the great contribution he has made to Future's evolution as a leading digital media business."

Future will provide a full update on progress when results for the half-year ended 31 March are announced on 23 May 2014.

ends

Enquiries

Future plc
Mark Wood, Chief Executive                                           Tel: [phone]
Zillah Byng-Maddick, Chief Financial Officer                     Tel: [phone]
Chris Taylor, Director of Communications                         Tel: [phone]

Brunswick Group
Jon Coles/Andy Rivett-Carnac                                         Tel: [phone]

About Future:

·      Future plc is an international media group and leading digital business, listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR).

·      Future has been named Consumer Digital Publisher of the Year for three years in a row by the Association of Online Publishers (2011, 2012, 2013) and has been named the Professional Publishers Association Digital Publisher of the Year for two consecutive years (2012, 2013). Future is also the British Media Awards Media Company of the Year.

·      We have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating more than 200 publications, apps, websites and events.

·      We hold market-leading positions in Technology, Games, Guitar, Creative and Sport & Auto sectors.

·      We attract 58 million monthly global unique users to our websites, which include techradar.com, gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com and musicradar.com.

·      Future sold more than 19 million magazines last year, that's 37 magazines sold every minute. Our most well-known brands include T3, Cycling Plus, Total Film, Mollie Makes and Xbox: The Official Magazine.

·      Future has developed its own app-creation software, FutureFolio. We produce over 100 digital editions, and have sold over 5 million digital issues in the last year.

·      Future exports or syndicates 225 publications to over 89 countries, making us the UK's number one exporter and licensor of magazine content.

·      Follow Future plc on Twitter at www.twitter.com/futureplc and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/future-publishing 

 

END

 

 

BOAPGUCCWUPCPPA