Poster News Reporter Zhou Lingfeng reports
On December 20th, Cai Chongxin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alibaba Group, announced through a letter to all members that Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group and Chairman of Taotian Group, will also serve as CEO of Taotian Group.
This means that Wu Yongming will serve as the CEO of Alibaba Group, Taotian Group, and Alibaba Cloud Intelligent Group simultaneously, which will help to lead Taotian's transformation with technological innovation, ensure that the group focuses on core strategic e-commerce and cloud, form a unified command and high-intensity continuous investment.
The center of power is approaching Wu Yongming
Starting from March this year, Alibaba carried out the largest organizational change in 24 years, known as "1+6+N.". The intensive and intense personnel changes were launched in September. Cai Chongxin and Wu Yongming have officially taken over as the Chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group. Zhang Yong is advancing towards future technology funds and fading out of the center of power. Peng Lei, Tong Wenhong, Wang Jian and other veteran figures have returned.
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.
After taking office, Wu Yongming began reforms. 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.
Under the coordination of Wu Yongming, an Infrastructure Committee has also been established at the Alibaba Group level to coordinate the planning and construction of the entire group's underlying technological infrastructure, with the goal of improving operational efficiency and creating economies of scale. The Infrastructure Committee includes Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren, Alibaba Partner Jiang Jiangwei, Alibaba CTO Wu Zeming, and Dharma Institute President Zhang Jianfeng.
Not only at the group level, Wu Yongming's organizational relationship at Alibaba Cloud has also been adjusted. Supply Chain; IDC, website; Telemarketing; Wang Lei is responsible for the service and CIO line; Zheng Junfang is responsible for the Business Intelligence Line, Strategic Investment Line, Sales Management Department, Price Management Department, and Strategy Department, with both reporting to Wu Yongming.
Now, Wu Yongming, who combines three responsibilities, will shoulder more important reform tasks and the mission of "commander". Cai Chongxin introduced in a letter to all staff, "Having Wu Yongming concurrently serve as the number one position on Alibaba Cloud and Taotian will help lead Taotian's transformation with technological innovation, and ensure the group's unified command and high-intensity continuous investment in the two strategic focuses of e-commerce and cloud."
Independently facing the market, separate but not separate
In November of this year, Alibaba delivered a good transcript. From July to September 2023, the group's revenue was 224.79 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9%, and multiple businesses achieved rapid growth. Accompanied by this financial report, the spin off and listing at the beginning of the year have also begun to undergo changes, with the complete spin off of Cloud Intelligence Group no longer being promoted, and the suspension of Hema Fresh's initial public offering plan becoming two sudden "withdrawal" actions.
Regarding this, Wu Yongming said that efforts should be made to strike a balance between the independence and synergy of business groups, in order to achieve the maximum synergy of development.
He 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 research and development investment. At the same time, each business will be based on independent business units, facing the market independently, but also emphasizing separation without separation.
Two handed grasp, reshaping Taotian
Wu Yongming, who has a profound technical background, has a strong appeal within Alibaba, and everyone calls him "Wu Mama".
Wu Yongming has successively served as the chief technology officer of B2B, Taobao, Alipay and other important businesses, leading the construction of the underlying technology architecture of related businesses; Led the creation of the group's core business, Alibaba Mama Platform, innovatively incubated mobile Taobao, and promoted the group's wireless transformation.
In mid November, at the quarterly financial report conference call of Alibaba Group, Wu Yongming disclosed for the first time the group's three clear strategic directions for the next decade: technology driven internet platform business, AI driven technology business, and globalized business network.
As the technological foundation of Alibaba's products, Alibaba Cloud has made changes in Wu Yongming's strategic adjustment. Wu Yongming has determined that Alibaba will be AI driven in the next decade, and Cloud Intelligence Group will be the carrier of this mission. Cloud Intelligence Group will implement AI driven and public cloud priority strategies, and increase technological investment in AI related software and hardware fields. Through "cloud+AI", support the intelligent transformation of various industries and create greater opportunities for incremental growth in the era.
Wu Yongming, who has just taken over the Taotian No.1 position, may be the next target of change for Taotian. Wu Yongming once mentioned at the performance meeting that in the strategic cycle for the next three years, Taobao and Tmall will further clarify their business priorities - putting users first. Taotian Group should prioritize users, adhere to the "omnipotent Taobao" strategy, adhere to consumption classification and pricing power, and adhere to the selection of user value for products. Wu Yongming said, "We must firmly establish a comprehensive platform to meet the multi-level needs of the vast consumer group. This is the choice for Taobao and Tmall to maintain growth in today's competitive landscape."