Bob van Dijk, who served as the CEO of Dutch e-commerce investor Prosus and its controlling shareholder Naspers, has announced his immediate resignation from both leadership positions and the respective boards. In his place, Ervin Tu, the Group Chief Investment Officer at Prosus, has been appointed as the interim CEO for entities holding significant interests in major software, payment solutions, edtech, and food delivery enterprises and startups across the globe.
Although the exact reason for Van Dijk’s departure remains undisclosed, both companies emphasized that this decision was mutually agreed upon. Interestingly, the press release issued by the firms did not feature a statement from Van Dijk, who had assumed the top positions at the companies back in 2014.
According to an insider familiar with the companies, this leadership transition had been in the works for some time, as Van Dijk had largely achieved the objectives he had set for himself. He will continue to provide consulting services to the boards for a year.
“The group’s strategic objectives remain unchanged, and we are on track to fulfill our commitments, including achieving a consolidated ecommerce trading profit in the first half of FY25,” the companies affirmed.
Naspers’ remarkable journey began with a $32 million investment in China’s Tencent in 2001, catapulting it into a prominent global investor. Over the past two decades, the company has cemented its position as a major supporter, channeling funds into diverse firms such as StackOverflow, Delhivery Hero, Trip.com, Udemy, PayU, Byju’s, Swiggy, and Meesho.
Ervin Tu expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “Prosus is currently in a strong position. I am privileged to take on this role and contribute to shaping the Group’s future. I am highly excited about the talented team working alongside me and eager to embark on this journey,” in a formal statement.
