Executive who joined Future as a programmer in 2003 ‘perfectly placed to lead it’ as new CEO

January 30, 2025
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Future, the Bath-headquartered specialist global media group, has named an executive who has worked at the business for more than 20 years as its next CEO.

Kevin Li Ying, pictured, currently executive vice-president (EYP) of its B2C arm, will take over from current chief executive officer Jon Steinberg at the end of March. 

Shares in Future, which owns more than 200 brands ranging from magazines such as TV Times and Horse & Hound to the Go Compare insurance price comparison website, fell by more than 18% last October when Mr Steinberg suddenly announced his decision to quit and relocate back to the US with his family after just 18 months in the job.

Future said Kevin Li Ying has been appointed after “a thorough search process”.

He joined Future as a programmer in 2003 when it was still mainly focussed on producing print magazines and websites for video gaming enthusiasts.

He worked his way up through a number of jobs, including web development director and chief technical architect, before becoming chief technology officer in 2016.

By that time the business was bouncing back from a tough few years as a loss-making mainly UK business – a period in which it had closed titles and made staff redundancies – to an international group worth around £2bn and with 250 titles under its then CEO Zillah Byng-Thorne. 

Future said Mr Li Ying had been a key contributor to the successful transformation of the company from a traditional print publisher into a leading global digital media platform. 

As EVP of B2C, the group’s largest division, he has had full responsibility for all B2C (business-to-consumer) brands, editorial and revenue generation consisting of commercial advertising, ecommerce, subscriptions and newstrade revenue while ensuring technology and data are central to the division’s offer.

Future also said in his eight years as chief technology officer, and his earlier role as chief technical architect, he had led the development of the group's proprietary technology and infrastructure, including the creation of its eCommerce technology.

Future launched its Growth Acceleration Strategy just over a year ago in the face of the changing global media landscape and a tougher advertising climate.

It described the strategy as “a continuous process to ensure the group is best positioned to deliver sustainable organic growth”. 

Future chair Richard Huntingford said: “Kevin is a strong visionary leader with an unmatched knowledge of the group, from its tech stack to its revenue streams.

“In his current role he has been successfully delivering on the execution of the Growth Acceleration Strategy and is therefore perfectly placed to lead the next phase of Future's growth."

Kevin Li Ying added: "It is a great honour and a true privilege to have been asked to lead Future, a company that I love and I am proud to have helped to transform over the last 20 years.

“I look forward to continue to execute on the strategy, and am excited about our growth opportunities, building on our track record of innovation and producing excellent content and products to attract valuable audiences through a platform-agnostic approach."

Jon Steinberg, pictured, who joined Future from New York-based cable TV provider Altice USA’s news & advertising division, where he was president, will act as senior advisor until 30 June 2025 to ensure a smooth transition with Kevin.

Kevin Li Ying is also a non-executive director of W.A.G Payment Solutions, the FTSE 250 technology company, a position he has held since last March.

Future will release a trading statement on 5 February, ahead of its AGM.

 

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