Uber hires former Google, Facebook, Klout executives
As it focuses on expanding overseas, Uber makes three hires who have backgrounds in Silicon Valley's hottest companies.
Uber has hired three executives from Google, Facebook, and Klout to help manage the business, and rapid growth, of the car service company.
In a blog post Tuesday, CEO Travis Kalanick announced the new hires: former Google Treasurer and Chief Accountant Brent Callinicos, former Klout COO Emil Michael, and Ed Baker, Facebook's head of international growth. This infusion of Silicon Valley talent comes at a major time of growth for Uber. The company's been rolling out its various car services -- which include peer-to-peer, taxi, and black-car service -- to cities globally and its recent round of investments gave it a $3.5 billion valuation.
Hiring Baker is especially timely for Uber, which has been ramping up its overseas expansion. Baker, who spent two years running Facebook's international growth team after the social network acquired his social Q&A site Friend.ly, will head Uber's overall growth efforts. Kalanick also noted Baker's "deep insights into viral and social products," in his ability to help the company grow. He started his new job Tuesday.
Callinicos, who started at Google in 2007 after 14 years at Microsoft, will start as Uber's chief financial officer on Monday. At Google, he oversaw treasury and risk management activities. Kalanick called Callinicos "one of the top financial minds" in tech, adding, "Uber has enormous opportunities ahead that demand we have someone of Brent's caliber as CFO."
Michael, comes from social analytics company Klout where he served as COO. Michael started Tuesday as Uber's new senior vice president of business. He will continue to serve on Klout's board of directors. Kalanick said Michael, "a strategic deal maker," will manage and grow Uber's business partnerships.