Uber CEO May Take Leave of Absence in Management Shakeup

Uber Technologies Inc. CEO Travis Kalanick may step down for a three-month leave of absence as early as today in a shakeup that includes the resignation of Kalanick’s closest confident, Chief Business Officer Emil Michael, according to media reports.

Reuters first reported Kalanick’s possible sabbatical. He acknowledged in March he needed to “grow up” and get leadership help after a dash cam video showing him in a heated argument with an Uber driver. Kalanick (pictured) also is dealing with a family crisis after his mother was killed and father seriously injured in a boating accident late last month.

The Wall Street Journal says Michael could resign today, following a critical assessment by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder of the company’s workplace culture. Kalanick ordered the probe after allegations of widespread sexual harassment at the company.

Sources tell the Journal that Kalinick could be replaced as CEO on an interim basis by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, who held that post in the early days of the 8-year-old company. Camp currently is chairman of Uber’s seven-member board of directors.

Separately, Uber has been looking for several months for an outsider to become its chief operating officer. The company also is searching for a chief financial officer.

Uber’s reported management shakeup would cap months of scandals. So far this year the company has lost its president (Jeff Jones) and its heads of production and growth (Ed Baker), engineering (Amit Singhal), policy and communications (Rachel Whetstone), artificial intelligence lab (Gary Marcus), global vehicle programs (Sherif Marakby), senior financial official (Gautam Gupta), Asian operations (Eric Alexander) and autonomous vehicle development (Anthony Levandowski).