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DingTalk Founder Chen Hang Takes Unusual Role as Baiwang Director for ¥100K

Chen Hang's New Chapter: From DingTalk CEO to Baiwang Director

In a surprising move, Chen Hang, the founder and former CEO of DingTalk, has been appointed as a non-executive director of Baiwang Co., Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed company specializing in tax technology. The appointment was approved by shareholders with 100% votes in favor and comes with an annual salary of 100,000 RMB—a modest sum for a tech veteran who once led one of Alibaba's most prominent enterprise products.

A Career Spanning Two Decades

Chen Hang's resume reads like a who's who of Chinese tech. At 49, he has over 20 years of experience in enterprise internet, AI, and the digital economy. He founded DingTalk in 2014 and served as its CEO until 2020, then spent a year as an assistant to Alibaba Group Chairman Zhang Yong. From 2021 to 2025, he founded Two Hydrogens One Oxygen, a digital technology company. Most recently, he returned to DingTalk as CEO from March 2025 to June 2026. He also holds an MBA from Tsinghua University.

The Departure from DingTalk

His exit from DingTalk was anything but quiet. In June 2026, a 75,000-word resignation letter titled "Inside DingTalk" went viral, shedding light on the company's intense management culture. Shortly after, DingTalk's VP and AI product head, Ma Ruilah, published "Outside DingTalk," announcing his own resignation and questioning whether he was building products or just burning out. Alibaba's Partnership Committee then released an internal memo criticizing DingTalk's management style, and on June 11, Alibaba announced that Chen Hang would step down as CEO, replaced by Chen Yushen.

Why Baiwang?

Baiwang, founded in 2015, uses AI and tax expertise to drive business decisions. It serves over 3,000 enterprise clients and 33.45 million growth-oriented users, with its Tax-Swift platform covering 50+ countries. The company is deeply involved in national projects like the Golden Tax Project and provides digital solutions to giants like China Petroleum and ICBC. Bringing Chen Hang on board signals a strategic move to leverage his expertise in enterprise products, AI, and To B strategies.

What This Means

For Chen Hang, this role marks a significant shift from leading a high-profile product to advising a tax AI firm. For Baiwang, it's a chance to tap into his vast experience. The low salary suggests this is more about influence than income—a symbolic position with strategic weight.

Key Points:

  • Chen Hang appointed as non-executive director of Baiwang Co., Ltd. with a ¥100,000 annual salary.
  • His departure from DingTalk followed a viral resignation letter and management criticism.
  • Baiwang is a tax AI company serving millions of users and major state projects.
  • The appointment is seen as a strategic move to benefit from Chen Hang's expertise.

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