News
March 18, 2022

Future’s Zillah Byng-Thorne awarded CEO of the Year in PLC Awards

The boss of high performing global brand powerhouse Future plc, has been awarded CEO of the Year, beating off competition from leaders of some of the UKs top listed businesses.

Zillah Byng-Thorne was judged top CEO based on her strong and successful leadership of Future and her clarity of vision and strategy since becoming CEO in April 2014. 

“I’m privileged to lead a company full of creative and collaborative colleagues who are committed to delivering for our audience and our business,” said Zillah. “And I’m humbled to have been given this award from such a prestigious shortlist.”

“In winning this award, Future underwent an MOT for our commitment to environmental, social and governance activity and I’m proud that the work we’ve put in to Our Future, Our Responsibility was recognised in this way.”

The PLC Awards, delivered in partnership with the London Stock Exchange this week, reward and recognise companies listed on the main market for their successes and achievements in a number of categories. 

Zillah is only the second woman to win CEO of the year following former SSP CEO Kate Swann’s win in 2018. 

Future is one of the best performing organisations listed on the FTSE 250. At year end 2021, its revenue was up 79% and its online reach was 1 in 3 people in the UK and the US every month.

Immediately after taking on the role at Future, Zillah launched an acquisitions drive to grow the business and develop an online model, which has proved to be a successful strategy. 

The most recent significant acquisitions include purchasing rival publisher, Dennis in August last year and completing the £594m takeover of GoCo Group, the parent company of comparison website Go Compare in February last year, to enhance Future’s e-commerce and financial services capabilities.

Zillah’s leadership and vision have resulted in revenues in the year to end September 2021 rising 79% to £607m and its online reach was 1 in 3 people in the UK and the US every month. 

In February this year, it issued a trading update that confirmed its outlook for FY22 continued to be on track with Board expectations despite continued macro uncertainties and inflationary pressures