(Yicai Global) Sept. 6 -- Xu Lei, JD Retail’s former chief executive officer, has replaced founder Richard Liu as Chinese e-commerce giant JD.Com’s new president.

Xu Lei will lead the day-to-day operation and collaborative development of various business units, and continue to report to the company’s CEO, the Beijing-based firm announced today at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Liu, 47, will devote more time to formulating the company’s long-term strategies, mentoring younger management, and contributing to the revitalization of rural areas, JD.Com said.

Xu, who is also 47 years old, joined JD.Com in 2009 after working for Lenovo. Xu held several leadership roles within the sales and marketing divisions of JD Retail, including head of marketing and branding, head of JD Wireless, and head of platform operations.

In addition, Xin Lijun, former CEO of JD Health International, now serves as CEO of JD Retail, and Jin Enlin, ex-head of JD Health’s medicine department, has become CEO of JD Health. The appointments took effect immediately, JD.Com added.

Xin used to work for BenQ and Asus China before joining JD.Com in October 2012. He was in charge of JD.Com’s marketplace business and other business units of JD Retail. The company did not disclose Jin’s resume.

Shares of JD.Com [HKG: 9618] closed up 1.9 percent at HKD318 (USD40.90) today.

Editor: Futura Costaglione