Richard Liu is the CEO of JD.com, the biggest online retailer and local retailer in China. The company also leads to its highest income in terms of revenue in the country. Richard Liu’s tireless efforts have ensured that the company grows to the level it has currently attained. He is currently worth $11 billion, while the company he manages is valued at $57.6 billion. JD.com has become a global brand and has opened doors for many e-commerce companies.
Before venturing into an active career, Richard Liu pursued a sociology degree from the Renmin University of China. At the same time, he used to sharpen his computer skills by undertaking freelance coding. Richard Liu then summarized his education by undertaking an EMBA from the China Europe International Business School.
Upon completion of education, Richard Liu was employed at the Japan Life. It was a healthy food and health goods company that required both computer and entrepreneurial skills Richard Liu possessed. Here, he was made both the director of computers and the director of the business.
In 1998, Richard Liu opted to venture into something new and created his company. It was the birth of JD.com, then known as Jingdong. It was a brick-and-motor shop that sold magneto-optical supplies. Because of Richard Liu’s hard work and determination, it made the shop expand to 12 stores by 2003. However, he changed his tactics on how to run the business with the outbreak of severe SARS in China. People were forced to stay indoors, and this was the breakthrough for online businesses. Richard Liu made Jingdong operate online. The program was a success, and one year later, the online retailer was rebranded to JD.com. It was such a success that Richard Liu decided to closer all its local stores to focus specifically on the online business. Purchase of JD.com’s stake by WeChat’s Tencent and Walmart are some of the things that enhanced its growth.
Learn more about Liu Qiangdong : https://corporate.jd.com/richard-liu-jd-ceo-about
