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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says Travis Kalanick’s board move is ‘disappointing’ and ‘unusual’

It’s a short but not so sweet note about his ousted predecessor’s latest drama.

Annual Allen And Co. Investors Meeting Draws CEO’s And Business Leaders To Sun Valley, Idaho
Annual Allen And Co. Investors Meeting Draws CEO’s And Business Leaders To Sun Valley, Idaho
Dara is not happy with Travis.
Drew Angerer / Getty Images

As Recode noted last night, Uber and its board slapped back at ousted CEO Travis Kalanick after he appointed two directors to the board — former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain — without warning to anyone.

Kalanick’s replacement, new Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, responded in a letter to the staff of the troubled car-hailing company, in which he called the action “disappointing news” and “highly unusual.”

Well, yes, if this was a functional situation. But it is Uber, so it’s also par for the course. What will happen next week is anyone’s guess, except to say: More mishegas!

Here is Khosrowshahi note in its entirety:

Team —

I wanted to update you on some disappointing news from today. Travis appointed two new members to Uber’s Board without discussing it with me or the Board of Directors more broadly. Anyone would tell you that this is highly unusual.

If your family or friends ask you about it, here is our press statement:

“The appointments of Ms. Burns and Mr. Thain to Uber’s Board of Directors came as a complete surprise to Uber and its Board. That is precisely why we are working to put in place world-class governance to ensure that we are building a company every employee and shareholder can be proud of.”

Just know that the most important work here is the hard work you’re doing on behalf of our Company. Keep focused, keep together, and keep going.


This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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