- Daraz founder Bjarke Mikkelsen is departing.
- This comes amid layoffs at both companies.
- The change comes as giants like Alibaba and Amazon compete to dominate South Asian e-commerce.
Bjarke Mikkelsen, founder and CEO of Pakistani e-commerce startup Daraz since 2015, announced he is leaving the company. Stepping in as Daraz’s acting CEO is James Z. Dong, who also heads Lazada Group. Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba owns both firms.
Reflecting on Daraz’s journey and future
In a LinkedIn post, Mikkelsen reflected on Daraz’s growth since being acquired by Alibaba in 2018, overcoming logistics and payment challenges in South Asia.
He wrote that under Dong, Daraz will focus on “deeper integration” with Lazada and other Alibaba e-commerce brands. Dong brings extensive experience from Lazada, which he has led since 2021.
Cost cuts in both Daraz and Lazada
Founded in 2012, Daraz began in Pakistan and expanded into Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The company faced recent layoffs, cutting 11% of staff last month.
Similarly, Lazada laid off up to 30% of employees this month amid a turbulent time for Asian e-commerce players.
As he passed the baton to Dong, Mikkelsen expressed confidence that Daraz’s next chapter would involve reinventing itself with advanced technology like AI to power global supply chains.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for South Asian e-commerce, with giants like Alibaba and Amazon competing fiercely to dominate the rapidly growing market.
