Zhang joined Alibaba in 2007 and took on the roles of chief executive in 2015 and chairman in 2019, succeeding Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma. 

The chief executive role will be acquired by Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall Group chairman Eddie Yongming Wu, while executive vice chairman Joseph Tsai will become the new chairman. Both Wu and Tsai will begin their new roles on September 10.