05:01 AM EDT, 06/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Alibaba ( BABA ) has replaced the head of its AI-chat app, dubbed Dingtalk, in a leadership change after insider debate regarding the productivity platform's role in the broader AI strategy of the e-commerce colossus, reported Bloomberg on Thursday.

Chen Hang, Dingtalk CEO and co-creator, left his position and will be replaced by technologist Chen Yusen, according to people familiar with the matter.

Alibaba ( BABA ) staffers were informed of the decision in a company memo. Alibaba ( BABA ) shares closed down 4.7% in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Dingtalk, known as Dingding in Chinese, is part of Alibaba's ( BABA ) bid to exploit AI, in the post-ChatGPT era.

The Slack-style work app offered a menu of AI features under the departed Chen, though the push has been criticized as unfocused by some in Alibaba ( BABA ).

Chen had led Alibaba's ( BABA ) incubation of Dingtalk in 2014. Chen later left Alibaba ( BABA ), only to rejoin the company last year to reform the app for the AI era.

Alibaba ( BABA ) representatives did not respond for comment.