The news industry's loss is very much Google's gain: Ien Cheng, the digital mastermind of FT.com, is leaving for what he described as an "unmissable" opportunity at Google.
It won't be a decision he'll have taken lightly after eight years at the FT, but perhaps it was inevitable Google would headhunt him.
There's a lack of senior executives with the skills to pay the digital bills, so to speak, in the news industry and the FT will struggle to replace Cheng. His role covers business, editorial and technical development, so it could well be split up.
The FT's chief executive John Ridding has said they will be prioritising the search for his replacement for the next two weeks. Now's the time to throw your hat into the ring, then...
