Billionaire Jack Ma, the principal founder of the Alibaba Group, is returning to public life after accepting professorships at at least four universities outside mainland China.
Since he gave a speech criticizing Chinese banks in 2020, Jack Ma has kept a low profile. He has drawn attention from social media and the press during his overseas visits, including to Japan and Thailand.
Last month, the charismatic billionaire, who no longer holds any position in the Alibaba Group, accepted a three-year contract as a professor at the University of Hong Kong. It will focus on research in the areas of finance, agriculture, and entrepreneurial innovation and does not intend to give public lectures or speeches.
Moreover, the Tokyo College from the University of Tokyo (Japan) said this week that Jack Ma has joined the foundation as a visiting professor. The billionaire is expected to provide “advice and support on key research topics.” It is also expected to conduct joint research in the areas of “sustainable agriculture and food production”. Moreover, theAfrican Leadership Universitywhich has a campus in Kigali (Rwanda), appointed Jack Ma as a visiting professor, praising his “extensive experience in entrepreneurship and sustainable development.”
The 57-year-old billionaire has also been appointed as a visiting professor by Tel Aviv University (Israel). In a statement issued in late April, the foundation said that Jack Ma, who received an honorary doctorate in 2018, is expected to contribute to “sustainable agriculture and food research efforts.” In addition to these new roles, Jack Ma also serves as a member of the advisory board of the prestigious Tsinghua University.
Last month, Alibaba Group unveiled a plan to split into six listed companies. The group’s shares have lost nearly three-quarters of their value since October 2020, amid a crackdown on tech companies and after the record IPO of financial services firm Ant stalled.
According to the latest estimates ForbesJack Ma’s net worth is $23.4 billion.
Translated article from the American magazine Forbes – Author: Russell Flannery
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