Jack Ma's Ant builds policy, govt relations team for push in Asian markets

Staff of just under 10 staff to prioritise markets in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macau; Europe will be target as well.

Facing scrutiny at home, Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co. is building a team to burnish its reputation with policy makers in the Asian markets on which its international ambitions hinge.
 

The Hangzhou-based firm set up a division with just under 10 staff to handle international government and policy matters, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Senior Vice President Chen Leiming is heading the division and is in the process of hiring, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

Central to Ant’s overseas ambitions are digital wallets and payments, data-heavy businesses that require