Uber’s new CEO will start on Tuesday next week, he told staffers on Wednesday, leaving his post as the CEO of Expedia.
In an all-hands meeting with employees, Dara Khosrowshahi also said something that will be music to the ears of shareholders and retail investors looking to get in on the most valuable venture-backed company in the world: His opinion is that Uber should be public, something that shareholders could see in a timeline of 18 months to 36 months.
He also said his plan for Uber makes it a priority to “pay the bills.” The company, which has been without a chief financial officer or head of finance for some time, is losing more than $1 billion a year. Last quarter, the company previously said, it lost $645 million on revenue of $1.75 billion.
Khosrowshahi also gave employees some insight into how he will run the company, with statements like “I won’t B.S. you, and I hope you won’t B.S. me.”
Reporters with knowledge of the meeting said tears were shed by former CEO Travis Kalanick, but Khosrowshahi was being “very nice” to the co-founder, who is still on the board. Khosrowshahi reportedly said his successor at Expedia would be announced later in the day on Wednesday.
Tweet: From @dkhos at uber meeting now: “Everything starts with Travis”
Tweet: But importantly @dkhos said “it’s my opinion that the company should go public”
Tweet: Dara: “Most important thing is to stem the share loss in the U.S.”
Uber board member Arianna Huffington tweeted this photo from the meeting:
Source: Tech CNBC
Uber 'should' go public in next 18 to 36 months, says new CEO