Han Liu, former CEO and current head of logistics at Alibaba’s food delivery arm Ele.me, was recently taken by police from the company’s Shanghai office over suspected misconduct involving supply chain kickbacks, according to Chinese media outlet Caixin. Ele.me said it uncovered potential criminal behavior during an internal investigation and voluntarily reported the case to the authorities. The police have reportedly since summoned related personnel for questioning. An Alibaba veteran and former JD.com executive, Han was promoted to CEO at Ele.me in 2024 before stepping down in February 2025 to focus on logistics. The company said the leadership shift reflected the strategic importance of on-demand delivery. Sources told Caixin that Han has long faced suspicions of funneling benefits to supply chain partners across different roles. The investigation comes as competition intensifies between Ele.me and JD.com in instant retail, with both giants investing heavily in subsidies and promotions in an attempt to capture market share. [Caixin, in Chinese]
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