Zhang mentioned the verdict to step down was once a part of his personal plan.
Zhang’s intentions to simply focal point on cloud now had been some years within the making. In an interview with CNBC in 2018, Zhang mentioned cloud computing would be the corporate’s “major industry” at some point, underscoring his bullishness in regards to the era.
My fellow Aliren,
Since turning into CEO of Alibaba Crew in Might 2015, it has grow to be my customized to ship a number of letters to everybody yearly. As lots of you could have come to be expecting when receiving one of these letter, it regularly indicators an important organizational exchange. Nowadays isn’t any exception. This time, on the other hand, the inside track I am sharing comes to a very powerful non-public exchange.
I’m happy to file that our organizational transformation into the “1+6+N” type has been progressing as deliberate since we made the announcement. Throughout our most up-to-date profits announcement, we offered the board of administrators for each and every of the six primary industry teams, and those entities are actually all totally operational. We additionally introduced plans for a sequence of important transactions, which come with Cloud Intelligence Crew’s complete spin-off and record as an unbiased corporate, IPOs for Cainiao Sensible Logistics and Freshippo, and exterior capital elevating for AIDC. Alibaba can have a brand-new outlook for the long run.
As everybody is definitely conscious, the improvement of core applied sciences corresponding to cloud computing, giant knowledge and AI will result in an amazing transformation of our society and is of maximum strategic importance. Cloud Intelligence Crew is now complete velocity forward on its spin-off plans and we’re drawing near a an important level of the method, so it’s the proper time for me to devote my complete consideration and time to the industry. From a company governance standpoint, we additionally want transparent separation between the board and control crew as Cloud Intelligence Crew proceeds down the trail to turning into an unbiased public corporate. It will be beside the point for me to proceed serving as Chairman and CEO of each firms on the identical time throughout the spin-off procedure. Due to this fact, the Alibaba board of administrators has mentioned and authorized my plan to transition from the position of Chairman and CEO of Alibaba Crew to focal point solely on my position as Chairman and CEO of Cloud Intelligence Crew, efficient September tenth 2023. In flip, the Alibaba board of administrators has appointed Joseph C. Tsai to be successful me as Chairman and Eddie Yongming Wu to be successful me as Leader Govt Officer. As co-founders and companions of the corporate, Joe and Eddie have made vital contributions to the corporate’s construction and possess a wealth of beneficial revel in. I’ve each self assurance that their management will information Alibaba towards new heights.
This alteration indicates a brand new segment and new adventure, no longer just for the corporate but additionally for me for my part. Time flies, and this yr marks my sixteenth yr at Alibaba Crew. My appointment as CEO and Chairman of Alibaba Crew was once past my creativeness. With the ability to totally devote myself to the jobs for so long as I’ve is in point of fact because of the believe, fortify, encouragement, and persistence I’ve won from everybody. For this, I’m endlessly deeply thankful. Because of the historic alternatives that emerged via social development and marketplace construction over the last 16 years, I had the privilege of witnessing the speedy enlargement of Alibaba and took part along everybody in such a lot of achievements from inception to maturation that has impacted other folks’s on a regular basis lives, enabled the virtual transformation of companies, and made sure contributions to society. In combination we withstood the demanding situations caused via the pandemic and weathered the uncertainties of the macro setting over the last 3 years. Thru prosperity and adversity, we grew more potent, shared unforgettable studies, and endured via all of it in combination. I’m thankful for the friendships and bonds solid throughout this adventure this is extra treasured and significant to me than the rest.
During the last 24 years, now we have initiated self-reinvention time and again. Nowadays, we’re all status in combination at a brand new place to begin, hoping to release new enlargement via self-transformation. I do know everybody will proceed to fortify Joe, Eddie, and the brand new senior control crew. I’m hoping everybody will in finding the most efficient trail and platform for themselves. Yourself-fulfilment will get advantages society and the corporate, however extra importantly, hopefuly will let you uncover methods to be the most efficient model of your self. The crew at Cloud Intelligence Crew and I also are status on a brand spanking new level, and we will be able to leverage the ability of recent era in cloud computing, giant knowledge, and synthetic intelligence to serve the virtual transformation of enterprises of all sizes and industries and seize the large doable caused via AI. I’m extremely keen and excited.
My buddies, the panorama might evolve, however the mountains stay and the rivers will proceed to waft. Let’s get started a brand new bankruptcy. After we meet once more, might all of us be carefree!
Daniel Zhang
Alibaba Crew Chairman and CEO
Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Crew Chairman and CEO
2023.6.20