Future is set to kick off a search to replace chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne by the end of next year. 

The publishing empire behind Country Life and FourFourTwo has been told she is planning to step down after almost nine years at the company. 

Byng-Thorne has been one of Britain’s most successful bosses since taking the helm at Future in April 2014. 

The 47-year-old transformed Future from a £30m business on the brink of collapse to a £2billion empire of 250 titles. 

The publisher’s other major brands include TechRadar and Marie Claire. Sky News reported that Byng-Thorne has told Future chairman Richard Huntingford she will retire in the next 18 months. 

Last week she was appointed Trustpilot’s deputy chairman, with reports suggesting she will eventually take over as chairman. 

She also left the board of struggling online retailer The Hut Group (THG), sending its shares plummeting. 

Byng-Thorne has been rewarded handsomely for her turnaround of Future, taking home £35.6m in the past eight years. 

But the firm has faced rebellions from shareholders over a bonus package that could net her up to £40m. Future declined to comment.

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