NEW YORK — Chinese ecommerce giant JD.com has hired Wall Street Journal veteran journalist Loretta Chao to bolster its international communications team in New York.

Chao, who becomes director of international communications, joins JD.com after a 12-year career with the Journal, where she covered technology and business globally, including stints in the paper’s New York, Beijing, and Sao Paolo bureaus.

Reporting to Josh Gartner, JD’s VP of international corporate affairs, Chao will support JD.com’s global media and stakeholder engagement, and lead the firm’s international digital media strategy.

"Loretta's deep knowledge of China, technology, logistics and journalism makes her an uniquely qualified addition to JD.com as we look to tell our story to global audiences," said Gartner. "We are delighted to have her on our New York team as we continue to expand our international footprint."

Chao is perhaps best-known for her coverage of China's internet sector, during more than five years in Beijing. Most recently, she served as the WSJ's global logistics reporter.