Cheng feels he's done a good job at FT; in an internal email he said that:
"...instead of a company that was demoralised and disappointed at our online performance after years of falling behind the competition, the Financial Times is today newly confident across all areas - from editorial and technology to marketing and ad sales - to win in an internet world. I remain as proud of and hopeful for the Financial Times in a digital age as ever. I've simply been offered an opportunity at Google that is, for me, unmissable."
Cheng worked in business and product development since he joined Financial Times in 2000; he then switch to reporting, got promoted to publisher of FTChinese.com, and ended his career there working on the implementation of FT's new subscription model.