Uber taps Expedia executive to lead HR

Uber has hired Nikki Krishnamurthy, the head of human resources at Expedia, to lead its HR department.

The news comes after Uber’s former chief people officer Liane Hornsey resigned from the role in July after employees claimed she mishandled internal reports of racial discrimination at the company, Reuters reported.

As part of her new role, Krishnamurthy will oversee the ride hailing service’s recruiting, workplace and diversity and inclusion teams for its more than 200,000 employees, the company wrote in a blog post Tuesday. She starts her new role on Monday.

“Uber is one of the world’s most dynamic technology companies, and I’m honored to join as chief people officer,” Krishnamurthy said in the blog post. “Uber has an incredibly bright future ahead of it, and I’m excited to help build a company where the highest-performing and most diverse talent comes to solve some of the world’s toughest problems.”

Prior to joining Uber, Krishnamurthy spent more than six years at the travel booking website Expedia in various senior HR roles, most recently serving as chief people officer. She also has held positions on the HR teams at Washington Mutual, before it was acquired by JPMorgan Chase, and PNC Financial Services Group, according to her LinkedIn profile. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

“Nikki brings unparalleled experience in building a culture centered around transparency, respect and diversity,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement. “She is a trusted partner who will help our management team as we evolve our culture, ensuring Uber continues to be a place where employees are supported and welcomed, and where they can grow and thrive.”