HONG KONG – South China Morning Post’s online publisher Chris Axberg is departing his role, after failing to agree with SCMP management on the business model of its online platform.
Axberg, who recently spearheaded SCMP’s relaunch of its online platform, confirmed his departure was effective from 28 September, bringing an end to an eight-year tenure with the company.
Sources indicated executive director, SCMP Group, Kuok Hui Kong was the front-runner to take the reins. Axberg said although he had advocated the SCMP’s online site becoming free for users with advertisers driving revenue, management had opted to retain a subscription-based model.
“It was really the case that this was as far as I could take them strategically having to work in those parameters, so now I’m looking forward to new opportunities in digital media.”
