Bath publisher appoints social media expert to board

Bath publisher Future has announced the appointment of a social media expert to its board.

The magazine and digital publisher has appointed Ivana Kirkbride to its board as an independent non-executive director.

Ivana has spent her career in content-led, digital media businesses and has a deep understanding of how to leverage data and technology to create and deliver content to consumer audiences.

Most recently, she was at Meta where she held director positions in both product marketing and content strategy and acquisitions. Previously, she also held senior positions at Verizon, Google and YouTube, all in the US.

Ivana’s appointment comes ahead of Hugo Drayton’s forthcoming retirement from the board as he approaches his nine years of service at the end of the year.

Hugo will not be seeking re-election at the company’s AGM in February and will resign from the Board on 31 January 2024.

Ivana will join the Nominations Committee and the Responsibility Committee, taking over as chair of the latter in February.

Mark Brooker will assume the role of senior independent director on the same date.

Future chair Richard Huntingford said: “I am delighted that Ivana has agreed to join the board of Future.

“Ivana brings extensive relevant experience from a range of large tech/digital media companies as well as a deep understanding of working across the media, digital, consumer ecosystem, particularly in the US market which is a key strategic priority for the Group. She will be a very valuable addition to Future’s board.

“At the same time, I would like to thank Hugo for his significant contribution to the Future board over the past nine years”.