Wainwright will be responsible for the UK-based market research unit, developing audience and retail insights. He will report to Richard Spilsbury, strategic planning and development director.
Previously T-Mobile's head of future propositions, Wainwright has more than 15 years' experience in developing market research strategies for some of the UK's biggest telecoms and retail operators.
He spent four years at T-Mobile, following five years with Tesco, where he headed up insight and marketing planning for the retailer's home entertainment category.
Nicola Truman, who has left the company after maternity leave, was previously the most senior person in the six-strong market research department, as market research manager.
Future claims to sell 2.9 million magazines each month, while attracting more than 34 million monthly unique visitors to its websites.
It also claims to deliver more than 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet.
Spilsbury said: "At Future, we cultivate passionate and affluent audiences, many of them hard to reach via other media platforms. Simon knows our products, our markets, and our audiences − and will drive our insight agenda to the next level."
Wainwright said: "This role blends my passion for media, sport and technology with the need to deliver compelling insight stories on our customers and the market as a whole."
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