Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced on June 11, 2026, that it replaced the CEO of its Dingtalk app, Chen Hang, following internal debates over the platform's role in the company's AI strategy [1, 2]. Chen Hang, the original co-creator and longtime leader of Dingtalk, left his role and was succeeded by technologist Chen Yusen [1, 2].
Employees learned of the leadership change through an internal memo circulated within Alibaba [1, 2]. Dingtalk, a productivity app similar to Slack, has been central to Alibaba's efforts to pivot toward artificial intelligence since the rise of ChatGPT, integrating various AI features under Chen Hang’s direction [2].
However, the AI initiatives under Chen Hang were criticized inside Alibaba for lacking clear focus, and the management style faced scrutiny. A recently departed employee posted on an internal forum about burnout issues, prompting a rare public rebuke of Dingtalk’s management by Alibaba’s top leadership [2].
Chen Hang originally led Dingtalk’s incubation at Alibaba in 2014 before leaving the company. He rejoined last year to overhaul the app for the AI era [2]. The replacement came amid debates about how Dingtalk should contribute to Alibaba's broader AI ambitions.
Hong Kong-listed Alibaba shares fell as much as 5.9% on June 11 following the CEO change announcement, reflecting investor concerns over the internal uncertainty and strategic direction [1, 2].
Alibaba has not disclosed detailed plans for Chen Yusen’s leadership, but the move signals a shift in how the company intends to integrate AI within its key platforms. The company is expected to provide updates on its AI strategy and Dingtalk’s roadmap in the coming months.
