Tencent executive refutes criticism company has forsaken innovation to buy growth

Tencent executive said the company ‘is not an investment bank’ and that its investments are made to contribute to its core businesses

Tencent was previously criticised for driving growth through investments rather than original innovation. Photo: Bloomberg

A senior Tencent Holdings executive has come out to defend the Chinese internet giant’s strategy of backing multiple start-ups, saying the company is “not an investment bank” in the most comprehensive comments after industry observers accused it of prioritising investment over innovation.

Jeffery Li Zhaohui, managing partner of Tencent Investment, addressed an ongoing debate about whether the internet giant has “lost its dream” in an interview with BusinessWeek China published on Thursday. Tencent confirmed information in the interview but declined to provide further comment.

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