It has not been a good month for Uber as the ride-sharing app has been embroiled in controversy after controversy in the last few weeks. This week, it was reported that the company is about to lose two executives: president of ride sharing Jeff Jones, and vice president of maps and business platform Brian McClendon.
It was reported that the two are leaving under different circumstances. According to Recode, Jones, who arrived at Uber last fall, spent much of the first few months of his tenure meeting with drivers. But in February, his attempt to communicate with drivers did not go as planned as they began to fill his Facebook page with angry comments during a Q&A.
Jones, who previously worked as Target’s chief marketing officer, made the decision to leave Uber as a source told the website that he “does not like conflict” and he also cited differences over “beliefs and approach to leadership.”
In a statement, Jones said, “It is now clear, however, that the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber, and I can no longer continue as president of the ride-sharing business.”
Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that McClendon is departing amicably from Uber, but will remain an adviser to the company. In a statement, he said that he is moving to his hometown in Kansas, and it appears that he is about to make a massive career change as he is going into politics.
“This fall’s election and the current fiscal crisis in Kansas is driving me to more fully participate in our democracy--- and I want to do that in a place I call home,” said McClendon.
Lawrence Journal-World reports that that the executive alluded to the Kansas 2nd Congressional District in a recent tweet, which is set to be up for grabs as Rep. Lynn Jenkins has announced that she will not seek reelection in the 2018 election. McClendon has yet to formally announce if he will be running for congress next year.
McClendon was hired by Uber nearly two years ago. He previously worked at Google and was with the company for more than a decade. During his time with the company, he co-founded Google Earth, and McClendon made his hometown, Lawrence, the center of the opening of the Google Earth map.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on why Thinx employees are leaving the company.
