Alibaba vs Zalando: Founders, CEOs and History
Alibaba was founded in 1999 by Jack Ma (Ma Yun), Joe Tsai (Tsai Chung-hsin) and is led by Eddie Wu. Zalando was founded in 2008 by Robert Gentz, David Schneider and is led by Robert Gentz, David Schneider.
Company facts
Founders
Alibaba
Jack Ma (Ma Yun)
Jack Ma (born Ma Yun on September 10, 1964) founded Alibaba in 1999, embarking on a journey that would reshape the modern Chinese economy.
Joe Tsai (Tsai Chung-hsin)
Joe Tsai served as Alibaba's Executive Vice Chairman from 2013 until 2023 and became Non-Executive Chairman following the retirement of Jack Ma. In September 2023 he was elevated to Chairman of the Board.
Zalando
Robert Gentz
Robert Gentz co-founded Zalando in Berlin in 2008 with David Schneider and has served as Co-CEO since. He led the company through its 2014 IPO, its 2021 DAX inclusion and the 2025 ABOUT YOU acquisition. Robert Gentz was born in 1983.
David Schneider
David Schneider co-founded Zalando in 2008 alongside Robert Gentz. Backed by the highly aggressive, legendary German startup incubator Rocket Internet, Schneider helped blatantly clone the American Zappos model.
CEOs and their tenures
Alibaba
- Jack Ma1999–2013
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
He stepped down as chief executive in May 2013 and remained executive chairman until 2019.
Source - Jonathan Lu2013–2015
Chief Executive Officer
The $25 billion offering was the largest IPO to that date. Daniel Zhang succeeded him in May 2015.
Source - Daniel Zhang (Zhang Yong)2015–2023
Former CEO and Chairman, Alibaba Group
Daniel Zhang served as Alibaba's CEO from 2015 to 2023, overseeing the company's growth from a primarily domestic e-commerce platform into a diversified technology conglomerate with global ambitions.
Source - Eddie Wu (Wu Yongming)2023–present
Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Group
Eddie Wu was appointed CEO of Alibaba Group in September 2023, succeeding Daniel Zhang who had led the company since 2015.
Source
Zalando
- Robert Gentz2008–present
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Founder-led management of Zalando for its whole history.
Source - David Schneider2008–present
Co-founder & Co-CEO
As Co-Founder and Co-CEO, he drives the absolute core brand relationships and highly lucrative expansion into premium luxury fashion segments.
Source - Anna Dimitrova2022–present
Chief Financial Officer
As a key financial executive, she helps navigate the highly complex logistics costs of offering free shipping and returns across heavily fragmented European borders.
Source
Timeline: Alibaba and Zalando side by side
1999Alibaba
Alibaba.com Launched
Jack Ma and 17 co-founders launch Alibaba.com from a Hangzhou apartment with $60,000 in pooled savings, creating a B2B online marketplace connecting Chinese manufacturers with international buyers.
1999Alibaba
First Major Investment from SoftBank
Masayoshi Son invests $20 million in Alibaba in a meeting reportedly lasting five minutes, alongside $5 million from Goldman Sachs, providing survival capital through the imminent dot-com crash.
2001Alibaba
Gold Supplier Program Launch
Alibaba launches the Gold Supplier verified membership program at $3,000 per year, generating approximately $10 million in first-year revenue and proving the B2B marketplace model's commercial viability.
2003Alibaba
Taobao Launches to Challenge eBay
Alibaba secretly develops and launches Taobao, a consumer-to-consumer marketplace offered free to both buyers and sellers, directly targeting eBay's Chinese market position. Within three years, Taobao surpasses eBay's Chinese market share.
2004Alibaba
Alipay Escrow Service Created
Alibaba creates Alipay as a payment escrow solution for Taobao transactions, holding buyer funds until delivery confirmation before releasing payment to sellers solving the trust barrier that was limiting online commerce adoption.
2008Alibaba
Tmall (Taobao Mall) Launch
Alibaba launches a premium B2C marketplace initially called Taobao Mall (later rebranded Tmall), allowing established brands to operate official storefronts with higher trust credentials and enabling Alibaba to serve the premium consumer segment.
2008Zalando
Zalando founded in Berlin by Robert Gentz and David Schneider.
2009Alibaba
Alibaba Cloud Founded
Alibaba launches Alibaba Cloud (Aliyun) as a cloud computing business, a decade ahead of many enterprise adoption cycles, positioning it to become Asia Pacific's dominant cloud provider.
2010Zalando
First markets outside German-speaking Europe
Zalando launched in the Netherlands and France, its first non-German-speaking markets, and added apparel to its original shoe range.
2011Alibaba
First Singles' Day Shopping Festival
Alibaba transforms the informal 'Singles' Day' celebration on November 11 into a promotional shopping event on Taobao and Tmall, generating ~$130 million (936 million yuan) in sales a figure that would grow more than 100-fold in subsequent years.
2014Alibaba
Record-Breaking NYSE IPO
Alibaba completes its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on September 19, 2014, raising $25 billion the largest IPO in US stock market history at that time at a valuation of approximately $168 billion.
2014Zalando
IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
2018Zalando
Beauty Category Launched
Zalando began selling beauty products in 2018.
2019Alibaba
Dual Listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Alibaba completes a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising an additional $13 billion and broadening its investor base among Asian institutional and retail investors, reducing dependence on US capital markets.
2020Zalando
Acquired Fision
Zalando acquired Fision.
2021Alibaba
Record Antitrust Fine
Chinese regulators impose a 18.23 billion yuan ($2.8 billion USD) antitrust fine on Alibaba following a months-long investigation into its 'choose one from two' exclusivity practices at the time, the largest antitrust fine in Chinese regulatory history.
2021Zalando
Joined the DAX; Rubin Ritter stepped down as Co-CEO.
2022Zalando
Acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake)
Zalando acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake).
2023Alibaba
Six-Business-Unit Restructuring Announced
Alibaba announces its most significant organizational restructuring, dividing the company into six independent business units each with its own CEO and board: Taobao Tmall Group, Cloud Intelligence Group, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, Cainiao S…
2023Zalando
Job Cuts
Zalando said in February 2023 that it would cut several hundred jobs.
2025Zalando
ABOUT YOU acquisition closed on 11 July; FY revenue reached ~$13.9 billion (€12.3 billion).
2026Zalando
Announced a buy-back of up to $339 million (€300 million); narrowed 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to €680-720 million in August.
Acquisitions
Alibaba
- Sun Art Retail Group (Auchan Retail China)2020$3.6B
- Ele.me2018$9.5B
- Trendyol (stake investment)2018$750M
- Lazada2016$1B
- Youku Tudou2016$3.7B
- AutoNavi Holdings Limited2014Undisclosed
Zalando
- ABOUT YOU2025Undisclosed
- Highsnobiety (majority stake)2022Undisclosed
- Fision2020Undisclosed
Questions about Alibaba vs Zalando
Who is the CEO of Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Zalando?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited is led by Eddie Wu and Zalando is led by Robert Gentz, David Schneider. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Alibaba Group Holding Limited founded vs Zalando?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited was founded in 1999 — 9 years before Zalando, which was founded in 2008. Alibaba Group Holding Limited's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Zalando.
How many employees does Alibaba Group Holding Limited have compared to Zalando?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited employs approximately 131,462 people, while Zalando employs approximately 15,500. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has the larger workforce at 131,462 employees, compared to Zalando's 15,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Zalando headquartered?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited is headquartered in China and Zalando is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Zalando?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited was founded by Jack Ma (Ma Yun), Joe Tsai (Tsai Chung-hsin). Zalando was founded by Robert Gentz, David Schneider.
Which company has a longer operating history — Alibaba Group Holding Limited or Zalando?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited has been operating for approximately 27 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Zalando has been in operation for around 18 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Alibaba vs Zalando overview