Uber China’s former SVP and Head of Strategy, Liu Zhen, is to join China’s largest news aggregator Jinri Toutiao. Jinri Toutiao confirmed Liu’s new appointment to local news outlet Huxiu on Monday, although Liu’s new job title has not been disclosed.
Liu joined Uber China in April 2015 and oversaw corporate strategy for the company, leading its strategic development, including government relations, public affairs, and business development before she resigned from the post on September 30.
On August 1, China’s largest ride hailing app Didi Chuxing acquired all assets of its rival Uber China, including the latter’s brand, business operations and data. This ended the long-lasting subsidy war between Uber and Didi; the final result was Didi’s almost total domination of China’s ridesharing market.
The news aggregator Jinri Toutiao, or Today’s Headlines, is a Flipboard-like news aggregator app. It recommends news content using computer algorithms, based on deep learning and data mining technologies. The company in May 2016 claimed it had more than 47 million daily active users.
Jinri Toutiao was valued at USD 500 million in June, when it closed a Series C round of financing worth USD 100 million.
(The top photo is Liu Zhen. Photo from Baidu Images )