Jain is an alum of IIT Delhi and Stanford.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Leading taxi hailing service Uber Technologies Inc. has hired Indian American Amit Jain, president of Rent.com, to helm its Indian operations.
“Amit will be running all business strategy, operations, and growth in a market of global strategic importance for Uber,” an Uber spokesperson said, adding that he is a “a proven leader and strategist with a depth of experience in consulting and leading operations for multinational companies.”
As venture capitalists have flooded India with funding for an ever increasing plethora of startups, the Indian tech sector has seen an influx of Indian-origin professionals who have left Silicon Valley to stake their claim in the burgeoning South Asian market.
Prior to heading Rent.com, he held numerous executive positions including senior advisor for TPG Capital, vice president of Nexeo Solutions, and associate partner at McKinsey & Company. Jain holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and an MBA from Stanford University.
Uber, which was founded in 2009, is one of the fastest growing venture-backed private firms in the world. Despite its massive global growth, the company is in danger of playing second fiddle to rival taxi hailing service Ola in India. Jain will be tasked with closing the gap.
Ola strengthened its leadership position by buying smaller rival TaxiForSure for $200 million earlier this week, reported Livemint. Ola is also in early talks to raise at least $500 million in fresh funds, after receiving $400 million in April.
“I am very excited at the opportunity to lead Uber India,” Jain stated in a press release. “Uber is one of the fastest growing companies in the world and is radically changing the way people commute [every day]. In India, Uber is helping create tens of thousands of new jobs, empowering drivers with higher earnings potential and flexible work hours, and providing millions of consumers with a safe, reliable and convenient mode of transport. I am humbled to be a part of this deeply committed and passionate team that is the driving force for change for millions of Indians.”