Executive of Alibaba Food Delivery Unit Faces Police Probe
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Han Liu, head of Ele.me’s logistics division and the company’s former CEO, was recently taken away by Shanghai police, sources tell Caixin.
A senior executive at Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s food delivery unit Ele.me is under police investigation for alleged misconduct tied to the company’s supply chain operations, several people familiar with the matter told Caixin.
Han Liu, head of Ele.me’s logistics division and the company’s former CEO, was recently taken away by police from his Shanghai office for questioning, the people said. The preliminary probe centers on suspected illicit gains involving Ele.me’s supply chain, they said.
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- Ele.me’s logistics head and former CEO, Han Liu, is under police investigation for alleged supply chain misconduct, after Alibaba reported him following an internal audit.
- Han was promoted to CEO in March 2024, stepped down in February 2025, and was later reassigned to lead logistics.
- The probe occurs as Ele.me faces fierce competition from JD.com, whose food delivery orders now exceed 25 million daily, matching Ele.me’s volume.
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Who’s Who
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s food delivery unit, Ele.me, is facing scrutiny due to an internal investigation into alleged misconduct by a senior executive, Han Liu. Police are probing suspected illicit gains tied to Ele.me's supply chain. This comes amidst intense competition in China's instant retail market, with rival JD.com gaining ground.
- Ele.me
- Ele.me, Alibaba's food delivery unit, is facing scrutiny as its former CEO and head of logistics, Han Liu, is under police investigation for alleged misconduct related to supply chain operations. The company reported Han to authorities after an internal audit uncovered evidence of wrongdoing. This probe comes amid intense competition in China's instant retail market.
- JD.com
- JD.com is a rival to Alibaba and was a former employer of Han Liu, who is currently under police investigation. JD.com has recently expanded into the food delivery market, launching a campaign to recruit restaurant partners and achieving over 25 million daily orders, rivaling Ele.me's volume.
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What Happened When
- 2019：
- Han Liu joined Alibaba after holding roles at JD.com's e-commerce and logistics divisions.
- March 2024：
- Han Liu was promoted to Ele.me CEO amid a broader reshuffle of Alibaba’s local services business.
- February 2025：
- Han Liu stepped down as Ele.me CEO and became head of Ele.me’s logistics division.
- February 2025：
- JD.com launched a campaign to recruit restaurant partners for its food delivery services.
- April 30, 2025：
- Ele.me launched a major subsidy program by offering heavy discounts to consumers.
- Before June 20, 2025：
- Han Liu was taken away by police from his Shanghai office for questioning.
- June 20, 2025：
- Ele.me confirmed it had reported Han Liu to the authorities after an internal audit uncovered evidence of wrongdoing.
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