Alibaba’s Jack Ma Denies Beijing Forced Him Out

Executive chairman says retirement had been planned for a decade; timing prompted speculation it was linked to Chinese scrutiny of technology companies

“I don’t want to die in the office,” Jack Ma, one of China’s richest men, said about his retirement plans. Here's how the founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba has described his future in education and philanthropy. Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

Liza Lin

Sept. 18, 2018 10:21 a.m. ET

Billionaire Jack Ma said China’s government didn’t push him to step down as head of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., blaming rumors emanating from outside China for fueling such speculation.

Alibaba’s executive chairman told investors at an event in the e-commerce giant’s home city of Hangzhou on Tuesday that his coming retirement had been planned for a decade. The timing of the announcement earlier this month that Mr. Ma, 54, would hand over the reins to Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang next September caught many by surprise.

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