(Refiles to add dropped word "as" in 7th para)
* Evans left Goldman Sachs in 2013
* Sat on Alibaba's board since its 2014 IPO
* Hired to lead international expansion plan
* Won rowing gold medal in 1984
By Lawrence White
HONG KONG, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) Group Holding Ltd
BABA.N is hoping a Canadian Olympic gold medallist once tipped
to be the next chief executive of Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) GS.N
will help them make it big in the United States.
Michael Evans, who turns 58 this month, retired from the
U.S. investment bank in 2013, having forged a reputation as one
of the most prolific deal makers in Alibaba's native China
during a seven year stint in Hong Kong between 2004 and 2011.
Now he is tasked with leading the e-commerce giant's
expansion outside its homeland, an assignment that will be
particularly tough in the U.S. given regulators' sometimes
hostile attitude to Chinese firms buying American technology
assets.
"Evans was Mr China back when he was at Goldman," said
Eugene Tan, head of Asian Investment Banking at Oppenheimer
Investments Asia limited.
"For a Westerner he was regarded as knowing how the country
works and he'll be a useful face for Alibaba to fight off
negative sentiments as they try and break into the U.S. market".
Reuters was unable to contact Evans outside of normal
working hours in the U.S., where he is currently based.
As well as smoothing the way for acquisitions, Evans will be
expected to seal partnership arrangements for Alibaba with
brands and retailers across the U.S. as well as in Europe and
the rest of Asia.
Tan, who knew Evans when they both worked at Goldman, said
the appointment is part of a wider strategy at Alibaba to hire
bankers who can help the company secure valuable technology
outside of China.
"They are hiring up almost every tech banker I know. Jack Ma
is a smart guy, he realises you don't need to develop tech
yourself all the time, you can just buy it".
MEDAL WINNER
Evans is the second former Goldman Sachs banker to take a
senior role at Alibaba, following Michael Yao who joined in 2012
as its head of corporate finance. Yao was responsible for
guiding Alibaba to its record $25 billion U.S. initial public
offering in 2014.
Evans also worked on the listing, and has sat on Alibaba's
board as an independent director ever since.
He won his Olympic gold in the men's eights rowing during
the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics, competing on the same team
as his twin brother Mark who also worked at Goldman Sachs.
The pair's father John Evans was a successful cardiologist,
businessman and philanthropist.
Michael Evans had been tipped to take over at the top of
Goldman from current chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein,
surprising many in the industry when he instead stepped down as
its vice chairman and head of the emerging markets division.