The CEO of Alibaba’s Australian and New Zealand operations, Maggie Zhou, is to leave the company after 22 years. 

One of the early employees of Alibaba after it was founded in China, Zhou relocated to Melbourne in 2016 to head up the Australian business and has subsequently played a leading role in helping businesses from Australia and New Zealand join the platform and expand their reach to the e-commerce giant’s 1 billion Chinese customers. 

The Australian reports Maggie Zhou will now take up a role as senior advisor to the Jack Ma Foundation, a charitable enterprise set up by Alibaba’s founder. 

Alibaba’s regional offices will now be headed up by Pier Smulders, who is based in New Zealand. 

Last month, Alibaba Australia lost its director of business development John O’Loghlen, while James Hudson, director of corporate affairs and marketing, departed last November.