It was a chorus of demands for changes at the top from some of Uber's biggest investors that ultimately forced CEO Travis Kalanick out. Kalanick's departure caps a tumultuous period for the world's largest ride-services company, which upended the taxi industry and transportation regulations globally with Kalanick at the helm. Kalanick's decision "was a surprise to everyone", a second Uber spokesman said. Privately held Uber has been valued at $68 billion (NZ$94b), shattering the norms for Silicon Valley startups, and the company embodied many of Kalanick's aggressive and pugnacious personality traits. Gurley, one of Kalanick's closest confidants, praised the CEO on Twitter, after calling for his resignation.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 21, 2017 08:26 UTC