The string of resignations at Uber continues, as Uber’s Chief Product Officer, Jeff Holden, has stepped down. Holden joined the company from Groupon in 2014 and is now pursuing another opportunity.
Holden oversaw Uber Elevate, the company’s flying car operation, which is now headed by Eric Allison, the spokesman said but declined to elaborate on the reason for his departure.
New Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi has been shaking up the company since taking over Last August aiming to improve Uber’s reputation after a string of scandals.
Uber, along with Lyft, scrapped mandatory arbitration to settle sexual harassment or assault claims earlier this week, giving victims several options to pursue their claims including public lawsuits.
Uber also launched a new app for its drivers last month to improve an often contentious relationship.
Uber’s chief legal officer, Salle Yoo, and head of external affairs, Dave Clark, left the company in September.
Uber is also searching for a chief financial officer who can help take the company public in 2019. The CFO position has been vacant since 2015.
Holden was known to many internally as an ally to ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and led many different future-looking projects at the company. Before flying cars, he was helping to lead the self-driving effort. Several sources inside the company described him as a “visionary,” but said he had a harder time managing people.
Holden also notoriously helped Kalanick come up with some of the company’s more controversial corporate values — which have since been revamped under Khosrowshahi — such as “always be hustlin’,” “principled confrontation” and “toe-stepping.”
He was also one of the few holdouts left at Uber who was considered part of Kalanick’s inner circle.
