British magazine publisher Future PLC announced today that both its chief executive officer Stevie Spring and finance director John Bowman have resigned from the company. Future employs about 1,000 people in the United Kingdom and publishes several magazines including Fast Car, Metal Hammer, and Edge. In the U.S. Future is known as the publisher of Nintendo Power, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Best Buy's @Gamer, and operates several large gaming sites.
The company claims that the two executives resigned to help cut costs, following a 10 percent staff cut this summer that saw 100 jobs eliminated. The cuts were mostly related to the print magazine business, so that the company could expand on its new digital offerings.
Spring was the highest paid executive at Future receiving about $1.05 million for the fiscal year ended September 2010. This figure included salary and bonuses that amounted to around $258,000. Mark Wood, who was hired last year to run Future's UK operation, was appointed group chief executive to replace Spring, and Graham Harding, finance director for Future's U.K. operation, was appointed group finance director.
Wood denied plans to sell off the U.S. businesses, but did say the overall plan is to bring both its UK and U.S. operations "closer together." Rumors have been circulating all year that Future planned to unload its various U.S. magazine operations.
The company will announce its fiscal results for the year on November 24, and said it expects a 6 percent drop in revenues.
Source: IndustryGamers
