Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-08-13 19:21Core Viewpoint - The departure of Cai Jingxian, a long-time partner at Alibaba, marks a significant change in the company's leadership and reflects ongoing structural adjustments within the organization [1][5]. Group 1: Background of Cai Jingxian - Cai Jingxian, known as "Duolong," was one of the original developers of Taobao and is recognized as its first programmer [3]. - He joined Alibaba in 2000 after graduating with a master's degree from Hangzhou University and played a crucial role in building the Taobao platform from scratch in 2003 [3]. - Cai was responsible for the development and maintenance of Taobao's search engine from 2003 to 2007, showcasing exceptional technical skills [3]. Group 2: Partnership and Recognition - In April 2014, Cai was officially recognized as a partner at Alibaba after a rigorous selection process, highlighting his significant contributions to Taobao [4]. - The selection of partners at Alibaba involves strict criteria, including a minimum of five years of service and nominations from existing partners [4]. - Cai's technical prowess earned him a place on the Hurun Wealth List in 2017, with a net worth of 2.6 billion yuan [5]. Group 3: Organizational Changes - Cai's exit from the partnership comes amid a broader trend of reducing the number of partners at Alibaba, with the total dropping to 17, the lowest since the company's IPO in 2014 [5]. - The ongoing reduction of partners reflects Alibaba's focus on streamlining its organizational structure and emphasizing frontline business leadership [5]. - Currently, only four original partners remain, indicating a shift towards younger management to adapt to changing market conditions [5].