Jonathan Lu
Jonathan Lu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 |
| Other names | Lu Zhaoxi |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Known for | CEO of Alibaba Group (2013–2015) |
Jonathan Lu, also known as Lu Zhaoxi (; born in 1969), holds the title of honorary partner at Alibaba Group. He was Alibaba's CEO from 2013 until 2015, taking over from Jack Ma and later handing the position to Daniel Zhang.
Early life and education
Originally aspiring to pursue architecture, Lu ultimately graduated with a degree in hotel management from Guangzhou University after missing part of the Gaokao Exam. His professional journey began as a front desk receptionist at a Holiday Inn located in Guangzhou.
Career
Lu dedicated 13 years to Alibaba prior to his CEO appointment, contributing to various segments including the business-to-business platform (alibaba.com), Taobao.com, and Yun OS. In 2013, founder Jack Ma selected him to lead as CEO. Under Lu’s leadership, Alibaba achieved a landmark $21.8 billion IPO, surpassing market forecasts. Despite this success, there were reports indicating that Jack Ma had reservations about Lu’s capacity to continue at the helm.
In 2015, Lu was honored as Alibaba’s first senior executive to receive the title of "Honorary Partner," effectively marking his retirement from active management. By 2017, his personal fortune was estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion.