Genower, 43, is retiring from her role at IPC Connect after an IPC career spanning 20 years.
Her departure comes after the surprise appointment of Sylvia Auton as the new IPC Media chief executive, although Genower, who resigned at Christmas, was not in the race to take over from Sly Bailey, who departed earlier this year for Trinity Mirror.
Auton was previously the managing director of IPC's Country & Leisure Media division and was less high profile than other runners connected to the chief executive's job. These were thought to have included IPC group editorial director Mike Soutar and IPC Advertising managing director Georgina Crace.
Genower joined IPC in 1983 as a graduate trainee and has worked in virtually every part of the business, including launching the UK's current biggest-selling consumer magazine What's on TV and revamping TV Times in 1991 when television listings were deregulated.
She joined the IPC Media board as a director in 1994 and was part of the team involved in the management buy-out from Reed Elsevier in 1998. She also played a key role in the sale of the IPC Media business to AOL Time Warner in 2001.
According to Genower: "After 20 years at IPC, I've decided it's time for a life-change. I've had a wonderful career here, which I will look back on with great affection and pleasure."
Genower took on her current role in 1998, and was responsible for a portfolio of magazines including top-selling celebrity title Now, Woman, Woman's Own, Chat, Woman's Weekly and teenage fortnightly Mizz. In addition, IPC Connect is behind more than 30 branded specials each year.
IPC's newly appointed chief executive Auton said: "It is with great regret that I announce that Linda Genower, managing director of IPC Connect, has decided to retire. Linda is a colossus in the industry -- her track record has simply not been equalled. It's rare to find such a combination of tenacity, creativity, talent and compassion, but it is this that has set Linda apart."
She added: "After working together for some 20 years, I'm going to miss her enormously, both as a friend and as a colleague, but I wish her and husband Peter a perfect and idyllic retirement."
Genower will leave IPC at Easter and her successor will be announced shortly.
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