Future tweaks management structure

Future plc has created new executive positions for senior UK management figures aimed at bringing the company into line with its competition and rewarding key talent.

Future's UK managing director Robert Price has been promoted to the newly-created position of chief executive of Future UK, where he will report directly to Future plc chief executive Stevie Spring, while group publishing director Simon Wear becomes chief operating officer for Future UK.

Elsewhere, James Binns, Stuart Anderton and Peter Stothard become publishing directors for games, computer and photography, and automotive portfolios respectively, while Matt Pierce (games), Kelly Corten (computing and photography) and Paul Sloggett (automotive) become group publishers.

Mia Walters moves from group publisher (games) to publishing development director, and James Ashton becomes group publisher (games digital), reflecting his role in Future's various online concerns including gamesradar.com and computerandvideogames.com.

CEO Stevie Spring said that Price and Wear's promotions were designed "to recognise the seniority at the helm of our UK business and to bring our top level management structure more in line with the broader based content organisations we now compete with."

Price, reflecting on the publishing promotions, noted that it was "vital" for Future to "take steps to keep our best people, while attracting the finest talent the industry has to offer" as the company attempts to develop a cross-channel approach.

Both men paid tribute to their colleagues' ongoing contributions to Future plc.