AsianFin -- Xu Hao, chairman of Guizhou-Cloud Big Data Group—the exclusive operator of Apple’s iCloud services in mainland China—is under investigation by the Guizhou provincial government for alleged serious violations of discipline and law, according to an official statement on the provincial government’s website.

Xu, 57, was last publicly seen at the 2025 China International Big Data Industry Expo late last month, where Guizhou-Cloud signed a strategic cooperation agreement with cybersecurity firm 360 Digital Security Group.

Appointed chairman in December 2023, Xu previously served as chairman of Guiyang Industrial Investment Group and as vice mayor of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province. Under his leadership, Guizhou-Cloud has been responsible for managing major state-backed data initiatives, including operating Apple’s iCloud services in mainland China.

Founded in February 2018 with a registered capital of CNY 1.7 billion (approximately USD 238.7 million), Guizhou-Cloud is a large state-owned enterprise tasked with developing the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Experimental Zone. The company plays a central role in China’s efforts to expand big data infrastructure and cloud services, serving both government and commercial clients.

The investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny of governance and compliance practices within state-owned enterprises, particularly those involved in critical technology and data operations. No further details on the nature of Xu’s alleged violations have been released.

Authorities have not commented on how the investigation may impact Guizhou-Cloud’s ongoing operations or its partnership with Apple. The case is being closely watched by industry observers due to the company’s pivotal role in managing cloud services for one of the world’s largest tech firms.