Kalanick’s ghost still haunts Uber
SAN FRANCISCO: Uber Technologies Inc executives are trying to ease tensions stemming from Travis Kalanick’s attempts, in the weeks since he was ousted, to remain involved with the business and eventually seek a new role there.
Garrett Camp, an Uber cofounder and board member, sought to reassure employees on Monday that the search for a new leader was the board’s top priority.
In a staff email, Camp said Kalanick wouldn’t return as chief executive officer (CEO), responding to reports that the former CEO had privately expressed interest in coming back to Uber in a new full-time position.
“Uber must evolve and mature,” wrote Camp, who started the company with Kalanick in 2009. “We are committed to hiring a new world-class CEO to lead Uber.”
Kalanick resigned in June under pressure from top investors, who said he put the company at legal risk during his tenure. Since then, he has been angling to retain influence in management of the company.
Kalanick, who still sits on the board, may eventually seek a new role for himself inside Uber to work alongside the next CEO.
Uber, valued at about US$69 billion (RM259.7 billion), is currently considering candidates for the job, including former General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt.
Meanwhile, a potential deal between Uber and SoftBank Group Corp remains in negotiations, which appear to be playing out in public this week.
Masayoshi Son, head of the Japanese investment firm, told analysts on Monday that he was also weighing potential for an investment in Lyft Inc, Uber’s main rival.