(Yicai Global) June 5 -- High-level upheaval continues at Baidu as 21st Century Herald reports that Zheng Zibin, vice president and chief technology officer of its search business, will leave the Chinese tech giant, bringing the number of departing VPs to four in the past three months.

Zheng joined the Beijing-based firm in May 2010 and founded its Silicon Valley research and development unit in 2011, serving as general manager. In 2016, he became responsible for technical layouts for commercial advertising, user experience and the construction of its search ecosystem. He transferred to Baidu's innovative business to focus on client relations following a rotation last month. 

Zheng adds to a growing number of high-profile casualties at Baidu following last month's resignation of Vice President Xiang Hailong, a 14-year veteran who oversaw the firm's search business. Other recent outgoings include Vice Presidents Gu Guodong and Zhao Cheng and Executive Director Sun Wenyu.

The executive shakeup is connected with the rapid rise of competitor Bytedance and a sharp decline in the profitability of Baidu's search unit, Caijing magazine reported. Baidu fell into the red by CNY327 million (USD47 million) in the first three months of this year, its first quarterly loss since listing in 2005.

Editor: William Clegg