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Former Mashable Asia editor Victoria Ho hired to lead SCMP’s answer to AJ+

The former editor of the now defunct Mashable Asia has joined Hong Kong-based daily newspaper South China Morning Post as the media outlet expands its video output.

Victoria Ho, who led Mashable Asia from its inception in 2015 until its closure in December, has been appointed as executive producer for an upcoming video project understood to be modelled on AL Jazeera’s AJ+.

To build the new platform, the Alibaba-owned media house has also hired Dolly Li, who was previously a creative producer of AJ+ in the US. She will report to Ho.

SCMP was unable to divulge more information about the new project, but said it would have a focus on “expanding the global conversation about China”.

SCMP’s recently joined chief executive officer Gary Liu said: “As we accelerate our transformation, we are ecstatic that Victoria and Dolly are joining the effort.

“Their expertise and talent will help steer SCMP’s adoption of new media formats and exploration of new content verticals. The story of China continues to grow, and with Victoria and Dolly’s leadership, SCMP will find new ways of engaging the world for greater understanding.”

Ho, who interviewed Liu on stage at a recent WAN-Ifra conference, has relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong as part of the appointment.

Speaking to Mumbrella, she said: “Being able to join SCMP as it accelerates its digital transformation is truly the dream. I’m fortunate to join such a dynamic team, to use digital media to connect the world.

“As a digital native coming from traditional newsrooms and, most recently, a very plugged-in environment at Mashable, I look forward to leading my team to serving tomorrow’s consumption needs across devices.”

Last year, Mashable, one of many viral online publisher sites to have struggled with monetisation over recent years, was sold to low-cost publishing specialist Ziff Davis for US$50 million – one-fifth of its one-time value.

After the deal was closed, it was announced that Ziff Davis would lay off 50 of the site’s employees. Three of those included the Singapore-based staff: Ho, reporter Yvette Tan and head of sales Meng Lye Liu, who were sent emails at 3am confirming the end of the operation.

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