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Alibaba Appoints New Chairman, CEO in Fresh Management Shakeup

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Alibaba

By Adedapo Adesanya

Chinese tech giant, Alibaba, has announced the appointment of its current executive vice chairman, Mr Joseph Tsai, as its new chairman and Mr Eddie Wu as the chief executive officer (CEO) from September 2023, replacing Mr Daniel Zhang, who holds both positions.

Mr Tsai is a co-founder of Alibaba, and Mr Wu is the chairman of the e-commerce unit, Taobao and Tmall Group.

Mr Zhang, after eight years as CEO, will continue to serve as the chairman and CEO of Alibaba’s cloud unit.

This is the second time Alibaba has undergone a major change in executive leadership in a few years after co-founder, Mr Jack Ma, stepped away in 2019. And it comes just months after the company announced its biggest restructuring in 24 years.

The company said in March that it was splitting into six separate units, including cloud, e-commerce, logistics, media, and entertainment. Each unit is now overseen by its own CEO and board directors, and most of them can pursue separate listings or fundraisings.

“This is the right time for me to make a transition, given the importance of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group as it progresses towards a full spin-off,” Mr Zhang said in the announcement.

He added that the emergence of generative AI has opened up “exciting new opportunities” for the company’s cloud business.

“While our current transformation brings in a new corporate organizational and governance structure, Alibaba’s mission remains unchanged,” he said.

Mr Zhang said in a statement it was “the right time” for him to step down as the firm looks to implement a full spin-off of its advanced cloud computing unit.

Hangzhou-based Alibaba is one of China’s most prominent technology firms, with business operations spanning cloud computing, e-commerce, logistics, media and entertainment, and artificial intelligence.

The firm has faced several unprecedented headwinds in recent years as the Chinese government imposed tighter restrictions on the domestic tech sector.

Its co-founder, Mr Ma, criticised Chinese financial regulators in a public speech in late 2020, the Chinese government called off the blockbuster initial public offering (IPO) of Ant Group, the affiliate of Alibaba that owns Alipay, at the last minute.

The cancellation marked the start of a regulatory attack against the country’s internet industry and the private sector, during which regulators imposed a record fine of $2.8 billion on Alibaba Group for violating antitrust rules.

Since then, Mr Ma has largely disappeared from public view and retreated further from his companies. He has reportedly spent more time overseas, including in Hong Kong and Japan, home to his friend and Alibaba investor, SoftBank CEO, Mr Masa Son.

In March, he made a surprising public appearance in mainland China, days before Alibaba announced its major restructuring plan.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Jobs/Appointments

CNN Hires Arise News Adefemi Akinsanya

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Adefemi Akinsanya CNN

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

British-born Nigerian journalist, Ms Adefemi Akinsanya, has been hired by CNN International to host its new multiplatform feature series known as Africa Inc, sponsored by Dangote Industries Limited.

Ms Akinsanya joins CNN from Arise News, where she is an International Correspondent and Anchor based in Lagos. She has previously worked at Al Jazeera, Reuters, Sky News, and TRT World.

Africa Inc will showcase how African companies are competing and thriving on the global stage, from technology and hospitality to manufacturing and entertainment.

The series positions the continent not as an emerging player, but as a growing force shaping global commerce, innovation, and consumer trends.

The half-hour show will premiere in August, with four more episodes throughout 2026 and into 2027.

Bespoke Africa Inc segments will also run bi-monthly across CNN International, with digital and social content across CNN.com.

“I’m thrilled to be joining CNN to launch Africa Inc at such an exciting time for Africa’s international story. Across the continent, we’re seeing innovation, resilience, and ambition transforming industries and creating opportunities with global impact. I’m looking forward to bringing these stories to CNN’s audience,” Ms Akinsanya commented.

Also commenting, CNN International Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of Productions, Ellana Lee, said, “We are delighted to welcome Adefemi to CNN. As Africa continues to play an increasingly influential role in the global economy, Adefemi’s impactful storytelling will ensure that Africa Inc provides insightful coverage across CNN’s TV, digital, and social platforms.”

Ms Akinsanya is a 2023 Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and holds a BA in International Politics from King’s College London.

She has reported from the frontline of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, covering the refugee crisis and the role of race in the early war evacuation effort. She has also reported on the #EndSARS anti-police brutality protests in Nigeria, the 2024 US Presidential election, and from the World Economic Forum in Davos and the 2026 G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains.

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Tinubu Appoints Abel Enitan Nigeria’s Head of Service as Walson-Jack Retires

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Abel Enitan

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective August 27, 2026.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday disclosed that Mr Enitan replaces Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who will retire soon from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

Mr Tinubu thanked Mrs Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the civil service during her tenure.

He also wished her a fulfilling and successful life after service and conveyed the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service.

As for Mr Enitan, the President charged him to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the service, and build a more effective and responsive civil service.

He further urged him to lead a civil service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.

Mr Enitan, from Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President. He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

He brings considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.

Mr Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He had his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He later attended the University of Lagos and graduated in 1988 with a BSc in Finance and Banking. In 2015, he obtained an MSc in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

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Jobs/Appointments

FTN Cocoa Picks Wale Jubril as Interim Chairman

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wale jubril FTN Cocoa

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The board of FTN Cocoa Processors Plc has appointed Mr Wale Jubril as its interim chairman following the death of the former occupier of the position, Mr S.O. Oguntimehin, in March 2026.

The appointment of Mr Jubril was decided at the company’s board meeting held in July 2026, a statement from the organisation disclosed.

He will pilot the affairs of the organisation pending the appointment of a substantive chairman, a part of the notice submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited stated.

The interim chairman of FTN Cocoa is a seasoned banker, chartered stockbroker and corporate executive with over three decades of professional experience spanning banking, capital markets, finance and corporate governance.

The Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State-born financial expert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Lagos, obtained in 1988, and three Master’s Degrees from the same institution in Marketing (1993), International Law and Diplomacy (1998), and Economics (1999).

He qualified as an Authorised Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1992 and became a chartered stockbroker in the same year. He subsequently built a career in banking and the capital market before joining Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria Plc in 2009 as Executive Director, Finance. In that capacity, he provided leadership in financial planning, project appraisal, pricing and negotiations, particularly in relation to major oil and gas projects and engagements involving Chevron, NLNG, Total and other industry participants.

Mr Jubril also contributed to the development of the company’s financial sustainability through strategic planning, policy development, departmental restructuring and financial management, and served on the company’s Planning and Policy-Making Committee of the Board.

In 2021, he joined Float Securities Limited, where he currently serves as the chief executive. He has also served as a non-executive director of FTN Cocoa since 2015.

In recognition of his extensive experience in the private and public sectors, he was appointed an independent non-executive director of Gateway Mortgage Bank, a mortgage bank wholly owned by the Ogun State Government, in November 2022.

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