SCMP hires content aggregator boss Gary Liu to replace Robin Hu as CEO
South China Morning Post has appointed a new chief executive to replace Robin Hu, who is to step down after four and a half years in the role.
New CEO Gary Liu and outgoing boss Robin Hu
Coming in to helm the Alibaba-owned publisher is 33 year-old Gary Liu, a former Spotify, Google, and AOL executive who joins the publisher from content aggregator Digg, where he was CEO based in New York.
Hu, who is a director for Singapore’s Mediacorp, is to remain on the board as a director.
Joe Tsai, chairman of the SCMP board of directors, commented: “As an influencer and innovator in digital media and someone with roots in Greater China, Gary [Liu] is the perfect fit to take SCMP’s vision – coverage of Greater China from an Asian perspective for a global audience – to the next level and show our readers the future of news in the age of mobile and social media.”
Liu, with reference to the Post’s ambition to be a window to the world into China, said: “I believe that the SCMP is the platform that will bring a balanced and nuanced understanding of Greater China to the world.”
The leadership change is effective 3 January 2017.
Interesting hire. Alibaba showing its intentions.
Hopefully, he can make a big difference. Let’s face it, it couldn’t get much worse. SCMP’s website is an absolute dog’s dinner from a UX perspective. The reporting is just as bad. Not surprising perhaps given the number of vacant positions at the paper.
A story ran two days ago about the dangers involved in labelling people with special needs, referencing autism in particular. The headline? ‘HK police launch card scheme for mentally ill’
Hurry up Gary. Please.
ReplyTo say he’s got an uphill task would be an understatement. The place is in a shocking state. His biggest problems will be political. Let’s hope he’s brining a sharp axe and knows what he’s letting himself in for …
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