Travis Kalanick, the Chief Executive Officer of Uber Technologies Inc., resigned on Wednesday. This was so as to cap a series of controversies that have created issues in the world’s largest technology startup. These issues exposed the fundamental problems in the male dominated society.
Kalanick, in a statement, reported by popular news daily and verified by an Uber spokesman said “I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors’ request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted by another fight.”
Kalanick, 40, has been under a strict radar in the last few weeks after an investigation into the culture and workplace etiquette in the organization. But repeated demands from the investors in the organization forced Kalanick out.
The venture capital firm Benchmark’s Bill Gurley is one of Uber’s largest shareholders and is a member of the board. Also investors First Round Capital, Lowercase Capital, Menlo Ventures and Fidelity Investments, all demanded Kalanick’s resignation.
A popular newspaper reported that the investors delivered a letter to Kalanick while he was in Chicago. The newspaper also said Kalanick would remain on Uber’s board. It was also said Kalanick’s decision ‘was a surprise to everyone.’
Gurley, Kalanick’s closest confidants, praised the former CEO on Twitter. This was after he called for his resignation. He wrote, “There will be many pages in the history books devoted to @travisk – very few entrepreneurs have had such a lasting impact on the world.”
