21st Century Business Herald reporter Dong Jingyi reports from Shanghai
On December 20th, Alibaba announced that Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group and Chairman of Taotian Group, will also serve as CEO of Taotian Group. From now on, Wu Yongming will concurrently serve as the CEO of Alibaba Group, Taotian Group, and Alibaba Cloud Intelligent Group, helping to lead Taotian's transformation through technological innovation, ensuring that the group focuses on core strategic e-commerce and cloud, forming a unified command and high-intensity continuous investment.
On that day, Alibaba Group Chairman Cai Chongxin announced the appointment through a letter to all members. He wrote in the letter, "A brand new era requires a new strategic and organizational system transformation. Facing the past, facing the future, and changing oneself, I believe that Alibaba, which has undergone this round of transformation, will complete its transformation."
Alibaba launched organizational changes in March this year, and Cai Chongxin and Wu Yongming officially took over as the Chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group in September. Subsequently, Wu Yongming announced the establishment of two strategic priorities: "user first, AI driven", and conducted business analysis around these two priorities, reshaping business strategic priorities, and carrying out reforms to rejuvenate the management team. In November, at Alibaba's quarterly performance conference call, Wu Yongming first disclosed a new strategic plan to the outside world, clarifying Alibaba's important priorities for the next decade in three directions: technology driven internet platform business, AI driven technology business, and globalized business network. He announced that for its core business, Alibaba Group will maintain long-term focus and high-intensity resources and R&D investment, while each business will be based on independent business units, facing the market independently.
At the end of last month, Wu Yongming made judgments and trade-offs on Alibaba Cloud's strategic direction, determined that Alibaba Cloud will implement an AI driven and public cloud priority strategy in the next five years, and made significant adjustments to the business management team. He believes that today's Alibaba is facing rapidly developing new technologies and new changes and expectations in the market. No matter how successful you have been in the past, you must turn the page to zero and awaken the mentality of starting a new business.
After several months of transformation, Alibaba's new strategic focus and development path have been clearly presented. With Wu Yongming's dual focus on Taotian and Alibaba Cloud, the formation of Alibaba's focus on strategic core business development has been basically formed. Alibaba believes that this will help to lead Taotian's transformation with technological innovation, ensuring the group's unified command and high-intensity continuous investment in the two strategic focuses of e-commerce and cloud.
Dai Shan, former CEO of Taotian Group, will assist in the establishment of Alibaba Group Asset Management Company, which is a new business function after Alibaba's transformation.
Cai Chongxin also stated in his employee letter, "Since Wu Yongming took over as CEO of Alibaba Group for three months, he has comprehensively promoted the reform of the management team's youthfulness. Next, we will fully utilize a young management team that has been trained and emerged at the grassroots level, creating an innovative environment for young people."
Attachment: Full text of the letter from all staff
"The only constant is change, let's ignite the spirit of starting a new business!"
Dear Ali people,
A new round of technological transformation is unfolding, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. A brand new era requires new strategic and organizational system changes. Facing the past, facing the future, and changing oneself, I believe that Alibaba, which has undergone this round of transformation, will complete its transformation just like any other time in the past.
I hereby announce that after discussion, the board of directors of Alibaba Group has decided:
In order to promote efficient strategic collaboration and high-intensity resource investment in the core e-commerce business sectors of the group, Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group and Chairman of Taotian Group, will also serve as CEO of Taotian Group.
In order to optimize the return on capital and enhance shareholder value, the Group's Capital Management Committee authorizes the establishment of an asset management company. Dai Shan will assist the group in establishing an Alibaba Group Asset Management Company and forming a professional management team.
Wu Yongming took over as the CEO of Alibaba Group for three months, clarifying the strategic focus and priority choices of the entire group, making resolute choices around the main business, and comprehensively promoting the reform of the management team's youthfulness. Having Wu Yongming concurrently serve as the number one position for Alibaba Cloud and Taotian will help to lead Taotian's transformation through technological innovation, and ensure the group's unified command and high-intensity continuous investment in the two strategic focuses of e-commerce and cloud. Next, we will fully utilize a young management team that has been trained and emerged at the grassroots level, creating an innovative environment for young people.
As a member of the 18 founding teams of Alibaba, Dai Shan has been working hard on the front line of the company for over 20 years, dedicating tremendous efforts to the establishment and growth of the company. In the process of Taotian Group's comprehensive return to users, return to the Internet, and return to Universal Taobao, Dai Shan has completed her mission. Preparing for the Group Asset Management Company is a new business function after Alibaba's transformation, which requires a pioneering spirit and strong organizational structure capabilities. Dai Shan will fully leverage her expertise to continue creating value for the company.
The above adjustments will take effect immediately.
Let's embark on the journey of starting a new business together. In the future, we will be proud of today's changes. Let's cheer for Alibaba people!
Cai Chongxin
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alibaba Group
December 20, 2023