Alibaba replaces Dingtalk head amid internal AI strategy debate

Alibaba has swapped out the leader of DingTalk, its workplace collaboration app, following internal disagreements about how the platform fits into the company’s broader artificial intelligence strategy.

What happened at DingTalk

DingTalk is Alibaba’s answer to Slack or Microsoft Teams, a workplace communication and collaboration app that had reached 700 million users by the end of 2023.

DingTalk founder Chen Hang returned as CEO of the app in March 2025 after a period away from the company.

Former DingTalk AI product head Ma Ruila completed his departure from the company on May 15, 2026. He later published an essay laying out his views on the strategic disputes that had been simmering internally.

On June 10, 2026, Alibaba’s Partnership Committee publicly criticized the management culture at DingTalk. The committee advocated for a pivot toward innovative strategies rather than what it characterized as pressure-driven execution.

The bigger AI picture at Alibaba

In March 2026, CEO Eddie Wu oversaw the establishment of the “Alibaba Token Hub,” a new unit that integrates DingTalk with the company’s AI research initiatives, including its Qwen AI research efforts.

What this means for investors

The establishment of the Alibaba Token Hub under Eddie Wu’s direct oversight centralizes DingTalk and AI research under one organizational roof. The 700-million-user base at DingTalk represents genuine leverage if Alibaba can successfully layer AI tools onto that platform and convince users to pay for premium AI features.

Internal culture clashes, executive departures, and public disagreements about strategy are not the hallmarks of a company operating smoothly through a critical transition. Investors watching Alibaba should track whether the Alibaba Token Hub structure actually reduces internal friction and accelerates product development, and whether the company can stabilize its AI leadership bench after the recent departures.

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