Baidu's Lu Qi to leave role as COO

China's internet search giant Baidu Inc announced Friday that Lu Qi will no longer serve as chief operating officer of the company starting in July 2018 due to personal and family reasons, but he will continue to serve as vice-chairman of the board of directors.

Wang Haifeng has been promoted to senior vice-president and general manager of Baidu's artificial intelligence group, according to Baidu.

"I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to Qi, who took over daily operational management at Baidu in the past year to give me more time to contemplate the company's strategic course. We have seen many positive changes at Baidu since Qi joined last year." said Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu.

"With Baidu's strategy to transform into an AI-first company firmly in place, we are well-positioned to continue the momentum that we have built in the past year," Li said.

"I have deeply enjoyed working with Robin and my team at Baidu. I'm honored to have participated in Baidu's transition into an AI-first company. Due to personal and family reasons, I am no longer able to work in China on a full-time basis," said Lu Qi.

"I am highly optimistic about Baidu's future and will continue to support Baidu, while spending more time with my family in the United States. For my next steps, I plan to work in research and investment areas, to help advance our shared mission to make a complex world simpler through technology," he added.

Wang Haifeng joined Baidu in 2010 and became a vice-president in October 2013. Wang oversees the company's AI efforts in machine learning, big data, computer vision, natural language processing, speech technology, knowledge graph, robotics and augmented reality, according to Baidu.

"Haifeng has played an important role in Baidu's acquisition of engineering talent, helping Baidu drive the innovation and commercialization of AI technologies," Li said.