Jack Ma's public return sparks Alibaba leadership speculation

Chinese tech giant Alibaba (9988) founder Jack Ma Yun was recently spotted cycling by Hangzhou's West Lake, a low-key appearance that has fueled speculation about his potential increased involvement in the company.

A short 19-second video shared on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu showed Ma smiling and telling a passerby that the weather was very cool, while also reminding her to stay safe.

Netizens noticed Ma was riding a British Brompton folding bike, which retails for about 18,500 yuan (HK$20,230).

Since late 2024, Ma has made several public appearances in Hangzhou, including visits to Ant Group's campus to discuss artificial intelligence, attending Alibaba's Hangzhou headquarters, delivering speeches on AI at Alibaba Cloud events, and encouraging employees to innovate.

These appearances have sparked market and media speculation about whether Ma plans to take a more active role in guiding Alibaba and its affiliated companies going forward.

STAFF REPORTER