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Jack Ma announced a one-year transition from Alibaba’s executive chairman role on September 10, 2018. On September 10, 2019, Daniel Zhang succeeded him as chairman while continuing as Alibaba Group CEO—a role Zhang already held. Ma did not immediately leave every company or partnership role.
What happened during the one-year transition?
Alibaba announced the succession plan on September 10, 2018. The company said Ma would remain executive chairman for the next 12 months to support a smooth transition, after which Zhang would become chairman. Ma also planned to remain on Alibaba’s board until the 2020 annual general meeting. Alibaba’s September 10, 2018 announcement set out the plan and Ma’s accompanying letter.
The handover took effect on September 10, 2019. Alibaba confirmed the effective date in an announcement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2019. Ma planned to remain a director until the 2020 annual meeting, and continued as a partner of the Alibaba Partnership and a member of its partnership committee. Alibaba’s SEC-filed announcement describes those continuing roles.
Did Daniel Zhang replace Jack Ma as CEO?
No. Zhang was already Alibaba Group CEO when the succession was announced in 2018. He succeeded Ma as chairman of the board in 2019 and continued as CEO. The announcement was a chairmanship handover, not a new CEO appointment.
#1 Best Overall
| Date | Chairman | CEO |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2018, when the plan was announced | Jack Ma, executive chairman during the transition | Daniel Zhang |
| September 10, 2019, when the chairmanship handover took effect | Daniel Zhang | Daniel Zhang |
Why did Ma plan the succession?
Ma presented the plan as part of an effort to build a company less dependent on its founder, with stronger governance, continuity of culture, and development of talent. Those are Ma’s stated reasons, not an independent assessment of the transition’s results. In Alibaba’s 2018 announcement, he said: “This transition demonstrates that Alibaba has stepped up to the next level of corporate governance from a company that relies on individuals, to one built on systems of organizational excellence and a culture of talent development.”
Ma described succession planning as work he had considered and prepared for over ten years. He also said Alibaba had run smoothly for five years after he handed over CEO responsibilities in 2013. Both time spans are figures from Ma’s 2018 letter, not independently audited measures. The same letter included his line: “Alibaba was never about Jack Ma, but Jack Ma will forever belong to Alibaba.”
Rank #2
Was Ma’s departure immediate or complete?
No. Ma stayed on as executive chairman during the year-long transition and planned to remain on the board through the 2020 annual meeting. Alibaba’s 2019 filing also said he would continue in the Alibaba Partnership and its partnership committee. Saying Ma “retired” in 2018 can therefore obscure the distinction between announcing a future chairmanship handover and immediately leaving all company roles.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who leads Alibaba now?
The 2019 roles are historical. On June 20, 2023, Alibaba announced that Joseph C. Tsai would succeed Zhang as chairman and Eddie Yongming Wu would succeed Zhang as CEO, effective September 10, 2023. The company said Zhang would then lead Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group as its chairman and CEO. Alibaba’s 2023 leadership announcement and announcement on Alibaba Cloud leadership provide that later context.
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