In a significant move aimed at fostering innovation and injecting fresh perspectives into its management, Alibaba Group's gaming division, Lingxi Games, has announced that its leadership team will be stepping down to make way for younger executives. This decision, outlined in an internal memo, reflects Alibaba's broader strategy of promoting younger talent to drive the company's growth and maintain a dynamic, startup-like culture.

Since last year, Alibaba has been actively promoting individuals born after 1985 to key leadership positions as part of its restructuring efforts. This approach is seen as crucial for preventing the tech giant from becoming stagnant and embracing new ideas and strategies in an ever-evolving industry landscape.

The leadership transition at Lingxi Games underscores Alibaba's commitment to embracing change and embracing younger leadership. Zhan Zhonghui, the current head of Lingxi Games, along with two other executives, will be stepping down by the end of March to pave the way for new leadership. Zhou Bingshu, an experienced game producer known for his work on the mobile game "Three Kingdom Tactics," will assume leadership responsibilities.

While Zhan Zhonghui, who is approximately 50 years old, has been instrumental in steering Lingxi Games, the decision to hand over the reins to Zhou, who is in his mid-30s, reflects Alibaba's confidence in the next generation of leaders. This move aligns with Alibaba's broader restructuring efforts, which have seen changes in leadership across various divisions, including domestic e-commerce, cloud services, and local services.

Lingxi Games, best known for the popular mobile game "Three Kingdom Tactics," has experienced significant success under Zhan's leadership. The game, produced by Zhou, generated over $1 billion in revenue within the first two years of its release, highlighting Lingxi Games' ability to deliver innovative and engaging gaming experiences to users.

Zhan Zhonghui's journey from founding Guangzhou Ejoy to leading Lingxi Games exemplifies Alibaba's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering entrepreneurship within its ecosystem. As Alibaba continues to adapt to market dynamics and pursue growth opportunities in the gaming industry, the leadership transition at Lingxi Games signals a new chapter for the division under the guidance of Zhou Bingshu.