Jack Ma Yun names Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang Yong as his successor in the 12-month handover plan on Monday in an internal letter. 

File photos: VCG

Starting September 10, 2019, Ma will not serve as the chairman of the board for the Alibaba Group, the letter said, putting it a personal plan for years. 

Daniel Zhang Yong, 46, joined Alibaba in 2007 and is now Alibaba’s chief executive officer. 

Zhang’s nick name is Xiaoyaozi in the company’s internal system and he will assume the position of chairman of the board of directors. 

From now on, Ma will fully cooperate with Zhang to prepare the smooth transition.

After September 10, 2019, Ma will continue to serve on the Alibaba Group Board of Directors until the 2020 Alibaba Annual Meeting, the letter said.