Uber Names Strategic Finance VP Balaji Krishnamurthy as CFO, Flags AV Expansion Plans

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Uber promoted Balaji Krishnamurthy to CFO, replacing Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah after six years overseeing strategic finance and investor relations. Krishnamurthy announced plans to invest capital in AV software partners, take equity stakes and forge offtake agreements, targeting autonomous vehicle trips in up to 15 cities by end-2026.

1. Robust Fourth Quarter Operational and Financial Results

In the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Uber reported 3.75 billion trips, up 22% year-over-year, driven by an 18% increase in Monthly Active Platform Consumers (202 million) and a 3% rise in trips per user. Gross Bookings climbed 22% to $54.1 billion, while revenue expanded 20% to $14.4 billion. The company generated $2.5 billion of Adjusted EBITDA (a 35% increase) and converted operating activities into $2.9 billion of net cash, producing $2.8 billion in free cash flow. Unrestricted cash reserves stood at $7.6 billion at quarter end, underscoring a strong liquidity position ahead of near-term investments.

2. Strategic Leadership Transition Highlights Autonomous Vehicle Focus

Uber appointed Balaji Krishnamurthy, its vice president of strategic finance and investor relations, as incoming CFO, replacing Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah after his three-year tenure. Krishnamurthy’s six-year history with the company includes board service at AV developer Waabi and frequent public commentary on driverless technology. In his Q4 earnings statement, he emphasized disciplined capital deployment into AV software partnerships, equity investments in manufacturers and offtake agreements, and support for infrastructure providers as part of a multi-year plan to position Uber for a future dominated by autonomous mobility.

3. Forward Outlook and Investor Considerations

For the first quarter of 2026, Uber projects Gross Bookings growth of 17–21% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, targeting a range of $52.0 billion to $53.5 billion. Non-GAAP EPS is forecast between $0.65 and $0.72, implying a 37% year-over-year increase at the midpoint and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.37 billion to $2.47 billion. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi reiterated confidence in achieving AV trip facilitation in up to 15 global cities by year-end 2026, balancing near-term margin discipline with long-term potential in a multi-trillion-dollar autonomous mobility market.

Sources

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