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Bob van Dijk, the CEO of Dutch e-commerce investor Prosus and its controlling shareholder Naspers, has resigned from the top job and from the boards with immediate effect. Ervin Tu, Group Chief Investment Officer of Prosus, has been elevated to the position of interim chief executive for companies with significant stakes in major software, payments, edtech and food delivery companies and startups around the world.
The companies did not say why the 50-year-old Van Dijk had resigned, but claimed the decision was made ‘by mutual agreement’. Curiously, the companies’ press release did not include a statement from Van Dijk, who took on the top role at the companies in 2014.
Someone with knowledge of the companies indicated that the transition had been planned for some time, because Van Dijk had achieved almost all the objectives he had outlined for himself. He will continue to advise the boards for a year.
“The boards of Prosus and Naspers would like to thank Bob for his leadership over a full decade,” said Koos Bekker, chairman of Prosus, in a statement. “During this period, substantial businesses have emerged in Advertising, Food Delivery and Payments, while we have also entered a number of new areas. We appreciate Bob’s contributions and wish him the best of luck in his future career.”
A $32 million investment in 2001 in China’s Tencent established Naspers as a leading global investor. Over the past two decades, the company has consolidated its position as a dominant lender by channeling funds to several companies including StackOverflow, Delhivery Hero, Trip.com, Udemy, PayU, Byju’s, Swiggy and Meesho.
“Prosus operates with momentum. I am honored to take on the role and help shape the future of the Group. I couldn’t be more excited about the team around me and getting started,” Ervin said in a statement.
More to follow.