Latest News

  • Home
  • Global
  • Tearful Jack Ma Bids Farewell To Alibaba With Rock Star Show
Tearful Jack Ma Bids Farewell To Alibaba With Rock Star Show
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 IST
Tearful Jack Ma Bids Farewell To Alibaba With Rock Star Show

During a four hour celebration in an 80,000-capacity stadium, Alibaba's billionaire executive chairman delivered on his promise of a year ago to hand over to CEO Daniel Zhang.

 
 

HIGHLIGHTS
-- Jack Ma formally left Alibaba on Tuesday, performed at rock star show
-- Rock star show was a four hour celebration in an 80,000-capacity stadium
-- I will start a new life, there are so many opportunities, says Jack Ma
 
HANGZHOU, CHINA: A tearful Jack Ma formally left Alibaba on Tuesday, donning a guitar and a rock star wig at an event for thousands of employees of the e-commerce giant he founded 20 years ago in a small shared apartment in Hangzhou city in eastern China.
 
During a four hour celebration in an 80,000-capacity stadium, Alibaba's billionaire executive chairman delivered on his promise of a year ago to hand over to CEO Daniel Zhang.
 
Costumed performers, some dancing to dubstep music and dressed in traditional Chinese dress, and singers paid tribute to Mr Ma's reputation for dressing up and performing at big events, entering to a parade of floats representing Alibaba divisions such as shopping site Tmall and payment service Ant Financial.
 
"After tonight I will start a new life. I do believe the world is good, there are so many opportunities, and I love excitement so much, which is why I will retire early," Mr Ma told guests and employees.
 
Mr Ma was spotted at one point welling up with tears as staff put on skits and sang songs, prompting the topic "Jack Ma has cried" to trend on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
 
Toward the end of the ceremony, Mr Ma, co-founder Lucy Peng, and CEO of Alibaba's technology committee Wang Jian donned rock star-style leather jackets and wigs to perform Chinese pop songs. They were joined by co-founder Joe Tsai dressed in Marilyn Monroe style white dress and a blonde wig.
 
Mr Zhang, also clad in rock star garb, then delivered a solo, having earlier said that Alibaba would keep investing in areas such as cloud computing.
 
 

 
 

Mr Ma's exit comes as Alibaba has grown to become Asia's most valuable listed company, with a market capitalisation of $460 billion. It employs over 100,000 people, and has expanded into financial services, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
 
The company also said on Tuesday that it had adopted six new core values, among which one was a pledge to "respect the work-life balance decisions of every individual", marking a step away from Ma's recent comments urging tech company employees to work nights and weekends, which sparked a nationwide debate.
 
Mr Ma also told attendees that he hoped to see Alibaba shoulder more responsibility to improve society amid the sweeping changes brought about by technologies like big data and 5G.
 
"It is not easy to be a strong company, but it is more difficult to be a good company," he said. "A strong company is determined by its commercial ability, while a good company is responsible and kind."

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
'Worse than prison': A rare look inside China's detention camps to 'brainwash' Muslims

ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...

Recently posted . 199K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
What The Shape Of Your Belly Button Says About Your Health

If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...

Recently posted . 8K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Horrifying Acts of Chemical Warfare and Gas Attacks

In this age of terror, there might be nothing more terrifying than the thought of an attack carried out with chemical weapons. We’ve all heard the horrific ...

Recently posted . 3K views . 4 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Best Gym Equipment Brands in India 2018

Body fitness is one thing that everyone wants to maintain irrespective of age. Going to the gym and doing some great exercise always helps to maintain your body fit...

Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Global

 Article
ANCIENT CANCER HAS BEEN SPREADING AMONG DOMESTICATED DOGS FOR THE PAST 6,000 YEARS

This cancer spread to the Americas from Europe and then went onto to all the other European colonies.  

Recently posted. 696 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
NASA orbiter spots water molecules moving around the dayside of Moon

Using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scientists have observed water molecules moving around the dayside of the Moon.  

Recently posted. 728 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Nasa's InSight probe lands on Mars for unprecedented seismic mission

HIGHLIGHTS   *The three-legged InSight spacecraft reached the surface after being slowed by a...

Recently posted. 609 views . 2 min read
 

 Video
5 Life Changing Thoughts of Lord Krishna



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Reviews
The Best 5 Camping Tents in India 2018 – Reviews & Buying Guide



Recently posted . 1K views . 99 min read
 

 Reviews
Leaseweb hosting review



Recently posted . 1K views . 67 min read
 

 Article
How Sheikh Hasina’s win will affect India-Bangladesh ties

An analysis of the recently concluded Bangladesh elections, where Sheikh Hasina emerged victorious, and what they mean for India-Bangladesh ties

Recently posted. 961 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Brexit: Theresa May wants early deal on Britons in EU

London: British Prime Minister Theresa May needs an early arrangement on Britons living in the European Union nations, the media provided details regarding Friday.<...

Recently posted. 627 views . 13 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top