Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

The founder of Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, who helped launch China’s online retailing boom, stepped down as chairman of the world’s biggest e-commerce company on Tuesday. His resignation has come at a time when its fast-changing industry faces uncertainty amid a US-Chinese tariff war. Ma, one of China’s wealthiest and best-known entrepreneurs, gave up his post on his 55th birthday as part of a succession announced a year ago. He will stay on as a member of the Alibaba Partnership, a 36-member group with the right to nominate a majority of the company’s board of directors. (Photo Credit: Twitter Alibaba Group)

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

Alibaba is one of a group of companies including Tencent Holding Ltd., a games and social media giant, search engine Baidu.com Inc. and e-commerce rival JD.com. (Photo Credit: Alibaba Facebook Page)

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

The total amount of goods sold across Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms rose 25 per cent last year to USD 853 billion. (Photo Credit: Alibaba Facebook Page)

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

He pokes fun at his own appearance, saying his oversize head and angular features make him look like the alien in director Steven Spielberg’s movie “ET The Extraterrestrial." (Photo Credit: Alibaba Facebook Page)

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Retires, Picks Up Guitar, Dons Rockstar Wig To Celebrate

Jack Ma, a former English teacher, founded Alibaba in 1999 to connect Chinese exporters to American retailers. (Photo Credit: Twitter Alibaba Group)