Future restructures its games team

Future has reorganised its senior management team for film and games.

It follows the departure of Edge and OXM publisher Richard Keith last week, and criticism from Future’s senior management, which blamed disappointing sales of its video game publications for a drop in the company’s performance.

Former head of entertainment Clair Porteous is now deputy MD, with responsibility for the films and games group. She will report to Nial Ferguson, MD of Future’s technology, film and games groups.

Meanwhile, Lee Nutter becomes head of games and will focus on key brands PC Gamer, Official Xbox, Official PlayStation, Official Nintendo, Gamesmaster and Pokemon.

The Edge brand will be looked after by Declan Gough. Gough is Head of Future’s Creative & Design Group, which includes Computer Arts, .net and 3D World.

Finally, Keith Walker has a new job title in the form of head of digital – film, games and technology. He will be responsible for CVG and Gamesradar UK.

These changes reflect the challenge of the evolving market and show our focus on digital growth whilst continuing to invest in our heritage print brands," said Porteous.

"We have realigned the senior management structure to reflect our re-positioning away from a platform-focused structure to a more audience-based approach, and will focus on driving audience engagement and increased and additional revenue streams. With these changes in place we are agile and equipped to enter what will be an extremely exciting time for the games industry with the next-generation of consoles.”

Nick Weatherall, advertising sales director for Film and Games, added: The renaming of the Entertainment Group to Future Film & Games shows a clearfocus fortwoof Future’spillar portfolios. We are as committed as ever to delivering highly engaging editorial content which enables us to offer clients clearly focussed commercial opportunities.”