Jack Ma, China’s most famous billionaire, embraced the limelight with stunts like dancing in a costume to Michael Jackson before a stadium full of employees. On the other hand, Daniel Zhang, the former accountant who will replace Mr. Ma next September as the executive chairman of Alibaba, is practically anonymous.

“I enjoy walking on the street, and nobody can recognize me,” said Mr. Zhang, who has been Alibaba chief executive since 2015, in an interview with The Information in a conference room overlooking Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. “I try to be low profile.”