Alibaba’s DingTalk chief departs after debate erupts over AI strategy
Chen Hang left his role and will be replaced by technologist Chen Yusen
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[HANGZHOU, China] Alibaba Group Holding has replaced the head of its Dingtalk app, making a high-profile leadership change after an internal debate erupted over the productivity platform’s place in the company’s broader AI strategy.
Dingtalk chief executive officer and co-creator Chen Hang left his role and will be replaced by technologist Chen Yusen, according to people familiar with the matter. Staff were informed of the decision in an internal memo, the people said. The company’s shares slid as much as 5.9 per cent on Thursday (Jun 11) in Hong Kong.
Dingtalk, known as Dingding in Chinese, plays a crucial role in Alibaba’s bid to pivot towards AI in the post-ChatGPT era. The Slack-style work app launched a slew of AI features under Chen, though the push has been criticised as unfocused, the people said.
The criticism grew after a recently departed employee posted about burnout on an internal forum, the people said, asking to remain anonymous to describe private communications.
The post subsequently triggered a response from Alibaba’s top leadership this week, who issued a rare rebuke of the division’s management style in a separate internal memo, the people said.
Local media including 36 Kr first reported Chen’s departure. Representatives for Alibaba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Chen had led the incubation of Dingtalk in 2014, helping Alibaba get into enterprise software and fend off Tencent Holdings’ efforts. He later left Alibaba, only to rejoin the company last year to reform the app for the AI era. BLOOMBERG
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