Uber Technologies has announced a major leadership change as it promotes Balaji Krishnamurthy, its Vice President of Strategic Finance and Investor Relations, to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He replaces Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, who is stepping down after three years with the company. The move signals Uber’s growing focus on autonomous vehicle (AV) investments and long-term platform transformation.
Krishnamurthy has spent more than six years at Uber, primarily in investor relations, where he played a key role in communicating the company’s financial strategy and growth outlook to stakeholders. His appointment is particularly notable because he also holds a board seat at autonomous driving startup Waabi and has frequently highlighted Uber’s progress in driverless ride-hailing. This background suggests that Uber’s leadership is aligning its financial leadership closely with its AV ambitions.
During Uber’s Q4 earnings call, Krishnamurthy confirmed that the company plans to invest capital in autonomous vehicle software partners, explore equity investments in AV manufacturers, and pursue offtake agreements to scale operations. He also emphasized the importance of building out supporting infrastructure to enable large-scale autonomous mobility.
“With large and growing free cash flows, over the coming years we will invest with discipline across a multitude of opportunities, including positioning Uber to win in an AV future,” Krishnamurthy said in a statement accompanying the company’s financial results.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi echoed this optimism, calling autonomous vehicles a “multitrillion-dollar opportunity” for Uber. He added that autonomy would fundamentally amplify the strengths of Uber’s platform by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding access to mobility services worldwide.
According to Khosrowshahi, Uber expects to be facilitating autonomous vehicle trips in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of 2026, with roughly equal representation across the United States and international markets. By 2029, the company aims to become the world’s largest facilitator of AV rides.
The leadership transition comes alongside strong financial performance. Uber reported fourth-quarter revenue of $14.37 billion, marking a 20% year-over-year increase. Growth was primarily driven by robust demand for its food delivery segment, which continues to benefit from changing consumer habits and global expansion.
Mahendra-Rajah’s departure closes a chapter of financial stabilization and growth for Uber, while Krishnamurthy’s promotion marks the beginning of a new phase focused on autonomous innovation and long-term platform leadership. With rising cash flows and aggressive AV targets, Uber appears well-positioned to redefine urban transportation in the coming decade.
