Dara Khosrowshahi

Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber Technologies in August 2017, recruited from Expedia Group where he had served as CEO for 12 years. Born in Tehran, Iran in 1969, his family fled the Iranian Revolution in 1978, settling in the United States. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in electrical engineering and began his career in investment banking at Allen & Company before joining IAC/InterActiveCorp under Barry Diller. He inherited Uber at its most turbulent moment — the company was engulfed in scandals involving workplace harassment, regulatory battles, and a toxic culture that had forced out founder Travis Kalanick. Khosrowshahi's mandate was to professionalize the company while preserving its ambition. He moved quickly to settle regulatory disputes, repair relationships with drivers and cities, and instill corporate governance standards. The biggest transformation came during the COVID-19 pandemic when ride-hailing demand collapsed overnight. Khosrowshahi accelerated Uber Eats, turning food delivery from a side business into a core revenue pillar. This diversification proved crucial — by 2022 delivery was generating comparable gross bookings to the mobility segment. He also expanded Uber into grocery delivery, advertising, and freight logistics. Under his leadership Uber achieved a landmark: its first GAAP operating profit in Q3 2023, capping a six-year journey from the cash-burning growth-at-all-costs era to sustainable profitability. The company now generates significant free cash flow and has been buying back shares. His current focus is on autonomous vehicle partnerships — working with Waymo, Aurora, and others rather than building self-driving technology in-house — and on expanding Uber's advertising platform, which has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the business.