Company's UK boss resigns amidst regulatory ban case

abiola

October 2, 2017 4:39 PM

Given some of the firm's current challenges, she is convinced that now is the right time to have a change of face.

Uber’s top boss in Britain Jo Bertram will quit the ride hailing app, according to an email reaching Reuters on Monday

This is coming as the company prepares to meet the London transport regulator in a bid to keep operating in one of its most important foreign markets.

Transport for London (TfL) shocked the San Francisco-based app last month by deeming it unfit to run a taxi service and deciding not to renew its license to operate, citing the firm’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

The firm’s new global chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi will meet the TfL commissioner Mike Brown on Tuesday in London in a move backed by the city’s mayor, who has criticized the app’s management in the Britain but welcomed Khosrowshahi’s apologetic tone and promise of change.

ALSO READ:Emails show ex-Uber boss Travis Kalanick angered regulators when he visited London in 2014

Uber’s Northern European Manager Jo Bertram will leave the firm in the next few weeks reports Reuters. She said the firm, valued at around $70 billion, needed a replacement in the region to tackle the issues it faces.

“Given some of our current challenges, I’m also convinced that now is the right time to have a change of face, and to hand over to someone who will be here for the long haul and take us into the next phase,” she said.

“While I would like to have announced my move in smoother circumstances, I’m proud of the team we’ve built here and am very confident in their abilities to lead the business into the next chapter.”

Bertram, who will take up an undisclosed new role elsewhere, will be replaced in her UK role by Uber’s London boss Tom Elvidge on an interim basis.

Uber London has provoked strong opposition from unions and traditional taxi drivers over working rights.

The company has until October 13 to submit its appeal, which will be reviewed by a judge.

But TfL’s Chairman is Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has been critical of the app.

Last week he singled out Uber’s management in Britain for criticism.

“The global CEO... seems to recognize some of the issues raised by the decision from TfL,” Khan told Channel 4 news.

“I just wish that Uber in the UK would rather than hire an army of PR experts and an army of lawyers, address some of the issues raised by the TfL decision,” he said.

abiola