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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 instant impact, in response to public filings. He would be the firm’s second-in-command, answerable for overseeing the mobility and meals supply sides of the enterprise.
Macdonald, who joined Uber in 2012 and is thought 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.
“It is a pure subsequent step in our evolution as an organization, as we drive progress 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 necessary new function.”
The reorganisation comes as Uber seeks to turn out to be a number one platform for quite a lot of providers, together with restaurant bookings and retail, whereas bettering co-ordination throughout its core meals and ride-hailing companies. It additionally goals to turn out to be the platform of alternative for autonomous automobiles.
Khosrowshahi reassured Uber staff that he was not planning to go away the enterprise, in response to an inner 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. It’ll imply that the Uber chief doesn’t must be the ultimate resolution maker on all crucial enterprise selections, in response to 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 practically 13 years in put up.
A former Uber govt advised the Monetary Instances that it was unclear what Khosrowshahi may do subsequent if he had been to maneuver on from his present put up.
The Uber chief has been in put up 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 particular person on the planet. My one criticism is that he runs the whole lot and has lots of direct studies,” the previous govt mentioned. “No different firm would give him that quantity of management.”
Macdonald will relocate from Toronto to New York, 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 aims.
This text has been amended to replicate that Macdonald will relocate to New York, from Toronto.
