Uber's board members are still presently searching for someone new to lead their ride-hailing business, but former CEO Travis Kalanick isn't under consideration as opposed to what previous reports have suggested.
Rumor has it that Kalanick is planning to "Steve Jobs" the whole situation, referring to the former Apple CEO, who was fired from the company and then came back triumphantly years later.
No Plans To Let Kalanick Return As Uber CEO
Kalanick resigned this past June amid troubling times for the company as it faced — facing, still — allegations of workplace sexism, intellectual property theft, and accusations of illegally spying on competitors, among others.
Garrett Camp, one of Uber's founders and board members, told employees about Kalanick's unlikely return as CEO, as Recode reports. In an email sent to employees Monday, Aug. 7, Camp addressed rumors saying Kalanick was attempting to snatch back his former position.
Right now, Uber is in the process of finding a new CEO. The topmost candidate was Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, but plans fell through. With the choice now only down to men, Uber's next leader will not be a woman, which goes against previous hopes and predictions that a female-led Uber would somehow help the company's tarnished image.
But bringing Kalanick back seems not an option at this point.
It's Time For A New Leader, Says Uber Board Member
"It's time for a new chapter and the right leader for our next phase of growth," wrote Camp in the email. "We are committed to hiring a new world-class CEO to lead Uber."
Camp notes Uber must evolve and mature as it undergoes a radical transition in workplace culture and practices. It certainly hasn't been a pleasant year for Uber's business as issues seemed to pile continuously on: first, it was about Uber's perceived exploitation of Trump's travel ban; then it was scathing workplace sexual abuse allegations detailed by a former engineer; then that prompted other similar testimonials to break the surface.
Throughout its series of ordeals, Uber engaged in a high-stakes legal battle with Google's Waymo over intellectual property claims. The common denominator to Uber's problem, at least as several reports put it, was Kalanick's attitude and, more specifically, his approach to dealing with employees or handling his business. That ultimately led to his resignation, of course.
For Kalanick, Camp's confirmation will sting, but the change is important and necessary even. Micah Alpern, principal at consulting firm A.T. Kearney, believes that putting Kalanick back in his previous positions signals that Uber isn't committed to changing its old ways.
