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Uber has appointed its first chief working officer since 2019, as chief govt Dara Khosrowshahi shakes up senior management and loosens his grip on the ride-hailing firm.
Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s head of mobility, has been appointed president and chief working officer with speedy impact, in keeping with public filings. He would be the firm’s second-in-command, accountable for overseeing the mobility and meals supply sides of the enterprise.
Macdonald, who joined Uber in 2012 and is understood by colleagues as Mac, will report on to Khosrowshahi. He’ll take cost of the corporate’s autonomous enterprise in addition to its membership service.
“This can be a pure subsequent step in our evolution as an organization, as we drive development by rising engagement throughout our total platform,” mentioned Khosrowshahi. “Mac has confirmed himself as a extremely efficient chief at Uber, and I’m thrilled for him to step into this essential new function.”
The reorganisation comes as Uber seeks to change into a number one platform for quite a lot of companies, together with restaurant bookings and retail, whereas enhancing co-ordination throughout its core meals and ride-hailing companies. It additionally goals to change into the platform of alternative for autonomous automobiles.
Khosrowshahi reassured Uber staff that he was not planning to depart the enterprise, in keeping with an inside memo. “I recognise the change would possibly immediate some questions on my future, so I’ll be clear: I’ve no plans to go anyplace anytime quickly,” he wrote.
Macdonald’s promotion means Khosrowshahi will pare again a few of his day-to-day duties and can not be the “single level of failure” for crucial enterprise selections, in keeping with an individual aware of the matter.
Newly appointed heads of mobility and supply will report back to Macdonald alongside a brand new head of autonomous mobility and supply. Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s head of supply, additionally introduced on Monday his departure after almost 13 years in publish.
A former Uber govt informed the Monetary Occasions that it was unclear what Khosrowshahi may do subsequent if he had been to maneuver on from his present publish.
The Uber chief has been in publish since 2017, when he changed co-founder Travis Kalanick. Khosrowshahi joined Uber from Expedia when the ride-hailing firm was mired in allegations of sexual harassment. He led Uber to its first annual working revenue in 2023 and repeated the feat final yr.
“Dara is the hardest-working individual on the planet. My one criticism is that he runs every little thing and has loads of direct reviews,” the previous govt mentioned. “No different firm would give him that quantity of management.”
Macdonald will relocate from New York to Toronto, the place most of the firm’s management are primarily based, together with Khosrowshahi. He’ll obtain $5mn in inventory topic to time and efficiency targets.