Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. founder and former chairperson Jack Ma showed up Monday at the company's annual Ali Day celebration for staff and family - photos taken during the event show.
This is the third public appearance by the once-flamboyant entrepreneur since disappearing from the limelight following a failed public listing bid by Alibaba affiliated Ant Group in late November.
The $37 billion listing was delayed indefinitely by regulators when Ma criticized the country's financial ecosystem which he condemned for throttling innovation and progress.
Since then, Ma's e-commerce and financial technology enterprises have come under pressure from China's financial authorities. They have alleged anti-competitive practices and monopoly concerns.
Alibaba has "abused its dominant market position in China's online retail platform service market since 2015 by forcing online merchants to open stores or take part in promotions on its platforms," regulators alleged.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Ma appeared relaxed Monday in photos taken at Alibaba's Hangzhou campus. He is seen smiling and mingling with staff. He wore a blue shirt and white slacks.
Alibaba's annual Ali Day event was first held in 2005 for the country's battle with severe acute respiratory syndrome - SARS - in 2003 that forced the entire company to work from home after an employee took ill.
Ma was last seen in April at a meeting of the Russia Geographical Society led by Russia leader Vladimir Putin.
Before that, he appeared in a short clip released by his eponymous charity foundation in January where he thanked local teachers for their service.
