The move comes as The Standard steps up efforts to position itself as the leading source of business, financial and economic news on China.
It has also launched a weekend edition, Weekend Standard, offering lifestyle, travel, sports and business features, as well as local and international news.
According to Clifford, who replaces Karl Wilson, the weekend edition was designed with a "clean look, more white space and plenty of photos".
"The front page and the entire look is intended to be more open, more inviting. It's the kind of paper you want to curl up on your sofa with or sit by the pool with, and the type of stuff we don't do in the day-to-day paper. I think we realised the business people are people too," said Clifford.
Meanwhile, the daily has also appointed John Berthelsen, former business editor of Asia Times, as deputy editor, and Peter Neville, who since 1998 ran his own contract publishing firm, as associate publisher. Philip Jay, who launched Banking & Securities Technology News, has been named director, business development.
Other senior hires will be announced shortly.
Profile, p.20.