Uber’s Travis Kalanick seeks a deputy to head-off mounting controversies
Uber’s embattled chief Travis Kalanick has begun a hunt for a chief operating officer to assist with day to day management of the ride hailing app, after conceding he needs leadership help after being hit by a perfect storm of allegations and crisis about its culture and practices.
Kalanick has made much of his leadership style in Uber’s rise to prominence since founding the business in 2009 but will now seek to adopt a less confrontational stance in a bid to keep out of the headlines.
Instead he will abdicate some responsibilities to a new assistant in a bid to demonstrate a change of thinking and governance at the top. Outlining this intent in a blog post Kalanick said: “This morning I told the Uber team that we're actively looking for a chief operating officer: a peer who can partner with me to write the next chapter in our journey.”
Kalanick found himself at the centre of a media storm last week after a video emerged of him berating an Uber driver who had the temerity to criticize fare cuts when called out to give his boss a ride, forcing Kalanick to issue a groveling apology as well as seek help.
No details have been provided as yet as to the scope of responsibilities and authority which will be handed to the incoming COO – whoever they may be.
Uber has been hit by a succession of scandals of late including accusations of secual harrassment by a former employee and the unceremonious departure of SVP Amit Singhal just days into the job.
Kalanick has previously conceded that 'I'm not perfect and neither is this company'.