SCMP hit by talent drain as Ross Settles, Mike McComb depart

McComb, who joined the SCMP one year ago from TBWA Tequila's strategic brand division The Disruption Consultancy, submitted his three-month resignation notice two weeks ago. He will officially depart in mid-January.

Settles, who joined the company less than one year ago, handed in his resignation Friday.

According to sources close to the situation, Settles was the expected choice to replace McComb as the SCMP's head of marketing, but his surprise resignation has left the company scrambling to find a leader for its restructured marketing division, leaving McComb in charge of the operation in the months before his departure.

“It was a surprise to all of us,” McComb said of Settles' resignation. “Ross was ideal to take on that strategic marketing role, combined with his digital expertise. The SCMP is moving toward an integrated media group in terms of moving closer to customers and offering faster service to marketers.”

Settles joined the SCMP to assume the newly created role, which included overseeing duties formerly held by assistant director of SCMP.com David Savelson, who departed to OgilvyOne in February.

Settles, who relocated from Silicon Valley, previously held senior positions in publishing companies including Knight Ridder Digital, Red Herring and Times Mirror.

With management changes to come imminently for the publication, McComb spoke about the marketing team's structure going forward.

“Three months ago, when the management spoke more specifically about what we've got to do with the company, one of my many recommendations was that we move away from a centralised marketing function in order to position the SCMP closer to our customers," he said. "We looked to have specific teams responsible for circulation marketing, classified marketing, display and advertising support. We have split up our marketing department into different pieces, so what's left is a small marketing team. So, looking at the future of the business, I added value to the company and now it’s time for me to move on.”

The SCMP has not released a deadline for when McComb and Settles' replacements will be announced.