SCMP appoints Ian Hocking as digital director of advertising

South China Morning Post has appointed Ian Hocking as digital director of advertising.In this role, Hocking will provide strategic direction and leadership to deliver diversified and sustainable revenue across all SCMP digital platforms. Additionally, he will be responsible for the company’s digital agenda both internationally and in Hong Kong. Hocking will set a foundation for success at SCMP by ensuring digital operations deliver the highest quality experience, real business outcomes and market leading insights for SCMP’s marketing partners.“Hocking's proven track record in cultivating digital business with ad tech in the media and technology landscape makes him the perfect candidate to enhance SCMP’s digital offering,” said Romanus Ng, SCMP’s general manager of advertising & marketing solutions. "We are confident that with the addition of Hocking to our digital arsenal, SCMP will strengthen our ability to work with brands through digital storytelling and branded content, which will allow us to achieve our full potential as the region’s leading digital media reporting on China and beyond.”Hocking was previously head of programmatic and data at NewsUK, a division of News Corp, which publishes The Sun and The Times of London, where he successfully led adtech and strategic partnerships, building their capabilities and reputation to an internationally renowned standard. Before joining NewsUK, Hocking was the head of agency sales and programmatic for ebay.co.uk."There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the SCMP and to help bring about our digital evolution. Our newly expanded digital capability will significantly boost our offerings to marketers as we continue to deliver the standard of excellence they have come to expect from the SCMP," concluded Hocking.