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SCMP
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SCMP picks Catherine So as chief executive, tapping Hong Kong media and tech veteran to run one of Asia’s oldest English newspapers

  • Catherine So, a Hongkonger who graduated from Harvard University in economics, was most recently the Asia-Pacific managing director of Expedia Group
  • So will officially replace Gary Liu on July 15 when Liu takes a new role to oversee the growth of Artifact Labs

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The South China Morning Post newsroom in Hong Kong’s Times Square. Photo: Martin Chan
Jiaxing Li
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South China Morning Post Publishers Limited (SCMP) has appointed Expedia Group’s managing director Catherine So as its chief executive to lead the 118-year-old Hong Kong newspaper’s business growth.

So, a Hong Kong native, will officially replace Gary Liu on July 15 when Liu takes a new role to oversee the growth of Artifact Labs, a blockchain start-up spun out from SCMP in March to develop non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from the archives of the South China Morning Post.

So graduated from Harvard University in economics, and was most recently the Asia-Pacific managing director of the US online travel company Expedia. She was previously the managing director of Groupon Hong Kong and held different positions at News Corp’s Star TV, AOL Time Warner and Merrill Lynch in her career. Her background in digitalisation, audience development, and content commercialisation makes her the “ideal leader” in a digital news organisation, SCMP said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to have Catherine as our next CEO,” said SCMP’s chairman Joe Tsai, who is also the executive vice-chairman of SCMP’s owner Alibaba Group Holding. “She brings exceptional leadership acumen to the company, and she will drive continued business growth with a deep focus on editorial excellence and user experience.”
Catherine So when she was Groupon’s Hong Kong Managing Director in October 2013. Photo: Fox Woo
Catherine So when she was Groupon’s Hong Kong Managing Director in October 2013. Photo: Fox Woo

“The need for quality journalism has never been higher in today’s complex and polarised world,” So said, adding she is “honoured” to take on the new role. “As a trusted news media company in Hong Kong and around the world, the Post is well-positioned to shape the global dialogue on Greater China and Asia.”

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