Transforming Alibaba

Alibaba is undergoing the most radical transformation in its history.

Following Jack Ma’s return to China in early 2023, Alibaba announced a sweeping restructuring - splitting the group into six largely independent units under the “1+6+N” structure. What followed was not a simple reorganisation, but a year of leadership changes, strategic reversals, and fundamental shifts in how Alibaba defines growth, control, and innovation.

Transforming Alibaba is a decision-support report designed to help leaders, investors and ecosystem partners understand what is really happening inside Alibaba - beyond headlines - and what these changes signal for the group’s future direction.

Built on close tracking of organisational changes, earnings disclosures and strategic signals, the report examines Alibaba’s evolving priorities across cloud, core commerce, AI and emerging innovation units. It unpacks why certain spin-offs were paused or reversed, how internal power dynamics are being reshaped, and what the renewed focus on cloud, AI and platform efficiency means for Alibaba’s long-term competitiveness.

What’s covered in this report:

• A clear breakdown of what actually changed during Alibaba’s 2023 restructuring
• Key internal and external challenges driving the transformation
• How leadership, organisational structure and strategic focus are being redefined
• The logic behind spin-offs, carve-outs and reversals across major business units
• What Alibaba’s transformation signals for its future - and for China’s tech ecosystem more broadly

This report is designed for decision-makers including:

• Executives and leadership teams tracking China’s tech platforms
• Strategy, corporate development and investment teams
• Investors and funds with exposure to Alibaba or the broader China tech ecosystem
• Founders and operators building on or competing with Alibaba’s platforms

How leaders use this report:

• To interpret Alibaba’s restructuring beyond surface-level narratives
• To assess long-term strategic risks and opportunities within the group
• To pressure-test assumptions about cloud, AI and platform-led growth in China