6 ms·

Not sure if this update came before the HN share, but this is a very explosive statement from Jones: “It is now clear, however, that the beliefs and approach t

by kosei 10y ago

Not sure if this update came before the HN share, but this is a very explosive statement from Jones: “It is now clear, however, that the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber, and I can no longer continue as president of the ride sharing business."

Gargoyle 10y ago
Yeah, good luck getting another career corporate exec after someone leaving says something like that in an official statement.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- jackmott 10y ago
  I would hire him. I wouldn't hire you.
  - Gargoyle 10y ago
    Would you hire someone to re-read what I posted? :-)
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - genericpseudo 10y ago
    It's an innocent mistake, but you've inverted the meaning of OP – he's agreeing with you (and saying this is a huge red flag for any experienced execs Uber might want to hire).
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
M_Grey 10y ago
In the most polite and urbane way possible, he's calling them toxic; in a world full of pretty toxic people and practices, he's calling them out. Until this moment I wasn't sold on the idea that Uber was going to actually die from this, now...
- djsumdog 10y ago
  It's dangerous to make predictions like that. We've seen worse companies last longer. In the 2008 financial crisis, people from the bottom to the top committed outright fraud; swallowing up other banks whole (PNC bought National City for $5 billion; then got a $5 billion tax credit .. they bought National City for free .. NC wasn't allowed to apply for TARP). Ford sold tank treads to Germany. IBM made punch cards for the SS. BP got the UK and US to remove the democratically elected leader of Iran and install a dictator. United Fruit and everything they did in South America Wal-Mart is still around, and Amazon has turned into the new Wal-Mart. Uber could die tomorrow or last another 50 years. I don't think any of this is make or break.
  - chejazi 10y ago
    I think the difference with those comparisons is that Uber is a massive startup, and startups have a high tendency to fail. Situations like Uber are the exact reason everyone was issuing warnings about "late stage private companies" last year. Uber might have lots cash on hand, but their unit economics makes them a ticking timebomb, meanwhile the constant PR is sending them into a huge tailspin. Zenefits seems to have cleaned up with the departure of the former CEO. I'm not sure what their bankruptcy prospects were. Departure or not, I think Uber has challenges beyond their need to create self-driving cars (which the CEO claimed was existential for them).
    - mylons 10y ago
      i think the self driving car stuff is existential for uber because the drivers cost them too much money. it's a race against their ability to raise capital.
hn_throwaway_99 10y ago
Wow, "very explosive" is putting it lightly. He could have very easily said something a little more sanguine, along the lines of "We had a difference of opinion, yada yada." The fact that he is trying to distance himself so strongly from Uber makes me think the stuff that will come out from the sexism investigation and Waymo lawsuit will be even more damaging than I thought. My not-even-2-cent internet armchair prediction: one or more people will go to jail for the whole Levandowski affair.
tlogan 10y ago
It is so strange that high level executive says something like this about the company he is leaving. Burning bridges like this? Could it be that he was part of the problem and attack is the best defense? Because I cannot find any other reason why somebody would do this. It is also strange to say that because he was no. 2 in the company and if you are no. 2 you should be able to fix things you do not like.
- x0x0 10y ago
  I would suggest it's unlikely he was part of the problem, given that Uber type behavior would never be tolerated at Target. That may be because of ethics, or it may be because they were sued into ethics; either way, not tolerated.
- stale2002 10y ago
  He only started 6 months ago, and was coming from corporate america Target the company. Burning bridges with Uber is a benefit to him. He can use that fire to burn away the bad smell from them before it taints him permanently.
- alasdair_ 10y ago
  Burning bridges can be a boost to your reputation. Imagine the number 2 person at Enron left after six months at the job and made the same statement - they would have been hailed as a leader of excellent judgement and moral standing after the collapse.

by kosei 10y ago

Gargoyle 10y ago

Yeah, good luck getting another career corporate exec after someone leaving says something like that in an official statement.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
jackmott 10y ago
I would hire him. I wouldn't hire you.
- Gargoyle 10y ago
  Would you hire someone to re-read what I posted? :-)
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- genericpseudo 10y ago
  It's an innocent mistake, but you've inverted the meaning of OP – he's agreeing with you (and saying this is a huge red flag for any experienced execs Uber might want to hire).
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

M_Grey 10y ago

In the most polite and urbane way possible, he's calling them toxic; in a world full of pretty toxic people and practices, he's calling them out. Until this moment I wasn't sold on the idea that Uber was going to actually die from this, now...

djsumdog 10y ago
It's dangerous to make predictions like that. We've seen worse companies last longer. In the 2008 financial crisis, people from the bottom to the top committed outright fraud; swallowing up other banks whole (PNC bought National City for $5 billion; then got a $5 billion tax credit .. they bought National City for free .. NC wasn't allowed to apply for TARP). Ford sold tank treads to Germany. IBM made punch cards for the SS. BP got the UK and US to remove the democratically elected leader of Iran and install a dictator. United Fruit and everything they did in South America Wal-Mart is still around, and Amazon has turned into the new Wal-Mart. Uber could die tomorrow or last another 50 years. I don't think any of this is make or break.
- chejazi 10y ago
  I think the difference with those comparisons is that Uber is a massive startup, and startups have a high tendency to fail. Situations like Uber are the exact reason everyone was issuing warnings about "late stage private companies" last year. Uber might have lots cash on hand, but their unit economics makes them a ticking timebomb, meanwhile the constant PR is sending them into a huge tailspin. Zenefits seems to have cleaned up with the departure of the former CEO. I'm not sure what their bankruptcy prospects were. Departure or not, I think Uber has challenges beyond their need to create self-driving cars (which the CEO claimed was existential for them).
  - mylons 10y ago
    i think the self driving car stuff is existential for uber because the drivers cost them too much money. it's a race against their ability to raise capital.

hn_throwaway_99 10y ago

Wow, "very explosive" is putting it lightly. He could have very easily said something a little more sanguine, along the lines of "We had a difference of opinion, yada yada." The fact that he is trying to distance himself so strongly from Uber makes me think the stuff that will come out from the sexism investigation and Waymo lawsuit will be even more damaging than I thought. My not-even-2-cent internet armchair prediction: one or more people will go to jail for the whole Levandowski affair.

tlogan 10y ago

It is so strange that high level executive says something like this about the company he is leaving. Burning bridges like this? Could it be that he was part of the problem and attack is the best defense? Because I cannot find any other reason why somebody would do this. It is also strange to say that because he was no. 2 in the company and if you are no. 2 you should be able to fix things you do not like.

x0x0 10y ago
I would suggest it's unlikely he was part of the problem, given that Uber type behavior would never be tolerated at Target. That may be because of ethics, or it may be because they were sued into ethics; either way, not tolerated.
stale2002 10y ago
He only started 6 months ago, and was coming from corporate america Target the company. Burning bridges with Uber is a benefit to him. He can use that fire to burn away the bad smell from them before it taints him permanently.
alasdair_ 10y ago
Burning bridges can be a boost to your reputation. Imagine the number 2 person at Enron left after six months at the job and made the same statement - they would have been hailed as a leader of excellent judgement and moral standing after the collapse.