Alibaba taps China Film Group VP to head movie division

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on July 18, 2014 that Chinese internet giant Alibaba has hired Zhang Qiang, former vice president of China Film Group Corporation, to head up its film division. [Photo: TechWeb.com]

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Chinese internet giant Alibaba has hired Zhang Qiang, former vice president of China Film Group Corporation, to head up its film division.

State-owned China Film Group is the biggest and most influential player in the Chinese entertainment industry. The group is a major exporter of Chinese films and is the only importer of foreign films into the mainland.

Zhang is reportedly going to begin his new job with Alibaba next month after resigning from his position at China Film Group.

This marks the latest move in the e-commerce giant's attempt to plant its flag in China's swelling film industry sector.

Since the beginning of this year, Alibaba has bought into leading Chinese online video platform Youkou Tudou, launched entertainment crowd-funding site, Yu Le Bao, and purchased stakes in film producer ChinaVision and digital broadcasting group Wasu.

Last week, the internet company announced that it is working with US film studio Lionsgate to launch a subscription TV streaming service on the Chinese mainland in August.