Uber poaches Google’s head of communications
Uber, the online cab-hailing company which is now looking to make a push into the delivery industry, has hired Google’s comms chief Rachel Whetstone to be its new senior vice president of policy and communications. Whetstone, who will begin her new job next month, replaces David Plouffe, Barack Obama’s 2008 election campaign manager, who moves up to being a board member and chief adviser to the company and its chief executive Travis Kalanick.
Uber has had a controversial ride over the past few years but its global expansion has undoubtedly been impressive. The company is expected to list on the stock market this year and has been valued at as much as $50bn (£31.7bn). As previously reported, the company has branched out from its core taxi business to incorporate food deliveries, courier services and, most recently, a new “Merchant Program” offering same-day delivery for online shoppers.
Like Plouffe, Whetstone has strong political connections. They are at different ends of the political spectrum – but are both rather good at backing the winning side. After studying politics at Bristol Univeristy, Whetstone joined the Central Office of the UK Conservatives and then move to Carlton Communications – where she worked with future UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Her husband, Steve Hilton, who is now chief executive of a California tech start-up, was a senior adviser to Cameron up until 2012.
