Alibaba's Ma says freezing hiring after growing 'too quickly': report

REIGNING HEADCOUNT IN: The hiring freeze came to light about a week ahead of Alibaba is due to report March quarter earnings on May 7.

SHANGHAI: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is freezing hiring for the rest of the year because it has grown "too quickly", executive chairman Jack Ma told staff. 

"Alibaba has really developed too quickly ... this year our entire group headcount will not go up by one person," Ma said, according to a transcript of the April 23 speech carried on Alibaba's official messaging app Laiwang.