Future reorganises operating structure

Future, a global specialist media company, last week announced the creation of a new business unit – B2C – as it focuses its operating model around three core divisions to enhance its offer to audiences and partners.

Future says the move follows the launch of its ‘Growth Acceleration Strategy’, unveiled in December last year, and will create a simpler organisational structure comprising three business units: B2C, Go.Compare and B2B. Following the creation of the B2C unit, Kevin Li Ying will become executive vice president of B2C, overseeing Future’s B2C editorial and revenue generation across all B2C brands.

As Future’s former chief technology & product officer, Kevin will oversee all editorial, subscriptions, print, commercial advertising and ecommerce revenue in the unit, ensuring technology and data are central to the B2C offer. Future says the new structure will enhance organisational agility and enable the company to operate more efficiently to meet the needs of its audiences and partners around the world.

Future says each operating division will be led as follows:

• B2C – led by Kevin Li Ying, covering all B2C brands, which span verticals including technology, games, TV and entertainment, homes, women’s lifestyle, wealth, knowledge, music, sports, creative and design.
• Go.Compare – led by Lee Griffin, a leading price comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies.
• B2B – led by Amanda Darman-Allen, comprised of SmartBrief, the digital newsletter publisher, and a portfolio of leading B2B brands covering trade news, and hardware and software buying guides. As part of changes, Jason MacLellan, currently SVP of engineering, will become chief technology officer, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience to the role.

Jon Steinberg, CEO, said: “Organisational health and an effective operating model are important components of our recently launched Growth Acceleration Strategy. Establishing three business units ensures we are structured in a way that makes us more agile, reduces complexity and ultimately leads to better outcomes for our audiences, our partners and our colleagues.

“I am delighted that Kevin will lead the B2C unit. Kevin is a respected and admired leader, who has done transformative work as Future’s Chief Technology Officer over the past eight years, and in Jason we have a natural successor as CTO, who I look forward to working with even more closely.”

Kevin Li Ying, executive vice president of B2C, said: “I am excited by the opportunity to lead our new B2C unit. We have a wealth of world-class brands supported by teams delivering specialist, intent-led content that truly sets us apart. Our unique blend of editorial, technology and data places us at the vanguard of the media industry, and I am looking forward to working with the wider team to enhance our B2C unit even further.

“I am also pleased that Jason has been appointed CTO. Having worked closely with Jason for many years, he is the ideal candidate to hand the baton on to and brings a depth of expertise and leadership experience to the role.”

Jason MacLellan, chief technology officer, said: “It is a privilege to be appointed as CTO. Technology and data lie at the very heart of our offer and I look forward to continuing to develop our proprietary technology to ensure we remain well positioned to capitalise on the many opportunities ahead of us as the market evolves.”