Steve Payne (pictured) joins Future as it seeks to further develop its commercial offer across its key brands and enthusiast-focused portfolios. He joins from his role as Associate Director for Carat, with senior comms planning responsibilities on the General Motors and Vodafone accounts. Bringing almost 15 years of experience across agency and media owners to Future, Steve has also had stints as Head of Integrated Solutions for Associated Press and was Strategic Planning Director for Emap Advertising.
In his new role, he will work closely with Future’s senior commercial team, including Kurt Edwards – the recently recruited Digital Commercial Director. His 14-strong team incorporates in-house ad marketing and market research functions and he will oversee Future’s ad planning and marketing strategies across its keys brands and enthusiast portfolios.
Simon Wear, Chief Operating Officer of Future UK, said: “The addition of an experienced Ad Planning Director was the next step in the development of our senior commercial team – as we continue to strengthen our offer for our advertising partners. With his vast contacts book, industry knowledge and strategic planning pedigree, Steve is ideally placed to help agencies and clients understand how Future can help them to get maximum commercial benefit from our enthusiast brands.”
Steve Payne, Ad Planning Director, added: “I’m delighted to be joining Future. This exciting new role is a fantastic opportunity. Bringing together several in-house functions into one team, we can help to develop the company’s commercial offer and really help drive the business forward.”
About Future
Future says: “Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong multi-media market positions in games, technology, film, music, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include Total Film, T3, Classic Rock, Digital Camera, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com, dailyradar.com and photoradar.com. Future produces nearly 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 27 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.”
