Uber CEO out as company tries to clean up its act
DETROIT — Under Travis Kalanick’s leadership, Uber’s “Animal House”style business plan was to grow as quickly as possible, steamrolling regulators while flouting the rules of workplace conduct.
Behavior at the male-dominated company didn’t seem to matter. Riders embraced the app-based ride-hailing system as an inexpensive, easy-to-use alternative to taxis, and still do today.
But now Kalanick is out as CEO, resigning under pressure as the company he co-founded eight years ago tries to clean up its act and deal with a federal investigation and widespread claims of sexual harassment inside its offices.
In stepping down Tuesday night, Kalanick, 40, said in a statement that his departure would help Uber return to growth “rather than be distracted by another fight.” That referred to efforts by the board and investors to oust him despite his outsized ownership stake. He will remain on the board.
A successor was not immediately announced.
The move comes as the world’s largest ride-hailing company struggles to morph from a freewheeling start-up into a mature company.
By some measures, Uber was performing pretty well. While it’s losing billions, the quarterly red ink is shrinking, and ridership and driver numbers keep growing in New York City, one of the few places that collect such statistics.