Richard Keith rejoins Future as Publisher while Head of Edge International, PC Gamer and Xbox portfolio James Binns departs
12/01/12 – Special interest media group Future Publishing has announced the appointment of Richard Keith to the role of Publisher within its new Entertainment portfolio. Richard replaces James Binns, heading up Edge International, PC Gamer, Official Xbox and Xbox World.
Richard is a video games industry veteran having spent more than 12 years running, editing or writing for games websites, magazines and events. Richard first joined Future in 1999, editing Official PlayStation Magazine and Official PlayStation 2 Magazine before going on to publish OPM, PC Gamer and PSM3. He also launched, among others, Official Windows Magazine and Sony’s First Play. Since leaving Future in 2010, Richard has launched and run web start-up The Games Tribe, an incubator for independent games sites.
Richard says: “I am thrilled to be back at Future and to get the opportunity to publish Edge, PC Gamer and the Xbox portfolio and work closely with our US team on exciting expansion plans. I’ve enjoyed launching and building up The Games Tribe and I return to Future with a new range of skills and a clear plan on how to make the most of these key gaming brands within Future’s peerless Entertainment portfolio.”
James Binns, a Future veteran of 18 years, departs the company after a successful career of editing, publishing and launching a number of key brands. During his time, he has worked on and influenced almost every part of the portfolio.
James says: “Through my years at Future I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the finest, smartest people I’ll ever know, and on brands I’ve really loved. Over all that time I wouldn’t change a thing… apart from switching from Left4Dead to Left4Dead 2 sooner. Now, after 18 amazing years, it’s time for new adventures.”
Richard will report into Entertainment Group Publishing Director Simon Maxwell, who recently took on global responsibilities for the Group following the integration of Future’s UK and US businesses, announced in November.
Simon says: “James has achieved amazing things at Future over the years and he leaves with our thanks and our heartfelt best wishes. He will be greatly missed – he’s a great character as well as being one of the most passionate people I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
“Happily, I am pleased to be able to appoint Richard to pick up and drive forward these key brands in our Entertainment portfolio. He brings a wealth of experience, a great knowledge of the games market and a track record in the digital space. All of which are essential for our rapid development plans. Future is number one for games magazines globally; has some of the world’s most recognisable digital brands and official partnerships with Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo in either print, online and on console in the UK, US and Australia. That is a position we will build on in 2012.”
The changes follow the establishment of the Entertainment Group last year, bringing Future’s world-leading video game brands together with its hugely popular movie and TV brands. The other publishers in the group include Clair Porteous (Total Film and SFX), Lee Nutter (Nintendo brands and Games Master), along with associate publishers Don Ditri (www.computerandvideogames.com and www.gamesradar.com) and James Kick (PlayStation brand and the Golden Joystick Awards).
ENDS
For more information:
Chris Taylor, Head of Communications, chris.taylor@futurenet.com or 020 7042 4033
About Future:
Future plc is an international special-interest media group, 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 200 special-interest publications, apps, websites and events. We hold market-leading positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Classic Rock, Guitar World and Official Xbox Magazine. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, musicradar.com and techradar.com (the UK’s no. 1 consumer technology website). Future sells 2.9 million magazines each month; we attract more than 34 million unique visitors to our websites; and we deliver over 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet. Future exports or syndicates publications to 89 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content. Future was named consumer digital publisher of the year at the Association of Online Publishers Awards 2011.
