Uber has new UK boss at wheel with London licence in balance
UBER has hired a new UK boss amid speculation that it is struggling to secure a long-term licence to operate in London.
The taxi app said Melinda Roylett would be taking up the role of its general manager for the UK and Ireland, joining from payments technology providers Square where she had worked as the head of Europe.
Uber said her experience working “for highly regulated companies” would be “invaluable”.
The Silicon Valley business has been without a UK head since May, when Tom Elvidge left the company to take up a role at office rental company Wework.
Ms Roylett was named as the new UK chief as rumours swirled that Uber may, yet again, face hurdles in getting its licence to operate in London. Its existing licence runs out next month.
According to Sky News, Uber is unlikely to be granted a long-term licence by Transport for London, and is instead expecting to be granted a temporary extension.
It would come as a blow for the business, which has sought to draw a line under various controversies over the past few years and reposition itself as a more responsible firm.
TFL first raised concerns over Uber in 2017, when it rejected its licence renewal request amid concerns that the company was not “fit and proper” to operate in the city.
After having introduced changes to its app, including ways to limit drivers’ hours and new safety measures, Uber was granted a probationary licence. That runs out on Sept 25 and Uber has reportedly submitted an application to renew the licence.
Reports have since suggested that TFL is concerned that Uber may not have met all the conditions outlined when it granted the company the 15-month licence.
A decision is expected to be made before the licence runs out.
Ms Roylett said she was “excited to be joining the company as we look to build out even more ways to get the UK moving, support licensed drivers and help make our cities cleaner”.