Baidu Vice President’s Resignation Causes Market Turmoil
In a recent turn of events, Baidu’s vice president of public relations, Xu Jing, has resigned from her position, causing a significant stir in the company and the market. The resignation, reportedly orchestrated by Baidu CEO Robin Li and related to Robin Li’s wife Ma Dongmin, has led to a series of controversies and financial losses for the tech giant.
Xu Jing’s remarks, made in several short videos posted on Douyin, a popular social media platform in China, sparked discussion and criticism of Baidu’s corporate values. Her cold and impersonal views on workplace management and communication raised doubts among the public and investors alike.
Following Xu Jing’s resignation, Baidu’s Hong Kong and US stocks both experienced significant drops, with the company’s market value evaporating over $12 billion in a single day. The public opinion incident surrounding Xu Jing’s departure has left many questioning Baidu’s internal operations and leadership.
In response to the turmoil, Baidu founder Robin Li and head of human resources Cui Shanshan held a small-scale employee communication meeting on May 9 to address the situation. Robin Li commended Baidu’s outstanding employees, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and communication within the company.
Despite the efforts to manage the fallout from Xu Jing’s controversial remarks, questions persist about the circumstances of her resignation. Speculation suggests that Robin Li’s wife, Ma Dongmin, played a significant role in Xu Jing’s departure, reflecting the power dynamics within the company.
As Baidu scrambles to address the public relations crisis, speculation abounds about the future leadership of the company’s communication department. With Vice President Yuan Foyu rumored to temporarily take over the public relations team, uncertainty looms over the tech giant’s next steps.
The aftermath of Xu Jing’s resignation underscores the challenges faced by tech companies in navigating public opinion and corporate values. As Baidu seeks to restore confidence and stability in the wake of the controversy, the repercussions of Xu Jing’s departure continue to reverberate throughout the industry.