Jack Ma replies to Alibaba employee’s letter lamenting ‘big company disease’
The Alibaba founder highlights ‘changes’ in the company’s development as it embarks on an ambitious AI strategy
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group Holding, responded to the resignation letter of a long-term employee on Tuesday, a rare move for the tech veteran who stepped back from all corporate roles in 2019.
In a response published on Alibaba’s internal website, Ma addressed the concerns raised by a 15-year employee, who criticised the “big company disease” afflicting the Chinese e-commerce giant in an extensive internal letter.
The employee, a product development leader on the team responsible for enterprise collaboration tool DingTalk, reflected fondly on his early years at Alibaba and praised the company’s core values, but sharply critiqued what he saw as various internal issues. They included unsuccessful acquisitions, unclear strategies, undesirable hiring practices, as well as unfair performance assessments and promotion mechanisms.
Still, the letter, posted on Monday, concluded on an optimistic note: “Artificial intelligence is coming, embrace this era … After spending 15 years with you, I hope you thrive for centuries. Alibaba, stay strong!”
Expressing gratitude for the employee’s feedback, Ma wrote on Tuesday: “Just as a person grows, Alibaba’s development inevitably involves many paths and processes. The company is undergoing changes, and I wish you the best. I hope you visit us often.”
The original letter and Ma’s response have sparked widespread discussion in China’s tech circles. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.