San Francisco—Uber has appointed Balaji Krishnamurthy, 41, as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective February 16, 2026. The Indian-origin executive, who joined the company in 2019, replaces Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, who is stepping down after nearly three years.
This leadership transition signals Uber's strategic pivot toward autonomous vehicles and robotaxi partnerships as the company enters a critical growth phase.
Key Facts
• Krishnamurthy will earn an annual base salary of $600,000 and assume the CFO role on February 16, 2026, replacing Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah
• He has been with Uber for over six years, serving as Vice President of Strategic Finance and Investor Relations since 2019
• Uber plans to facilitate autonomous vehicle trips in up to 15 cities globally by the end of 2026, with roughly equal split between U.S. and international locations
Krishnamurthy came to the United States in 2011 on an H-1B visa, working as Vice President at Goldman Sachs for over eight years before joining Uber. His appointment comes amid heightened scrutiny of the H-1B visa program in the U.S., with the Indian-American community celebrating his rise through the ranks as an immigrant success story.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi praised Krishnamurthy as someone who
The company highlighted that Krishnamurthy has been instrumental in shaping Uber's financial strategy while maintaining deep involvement in investor relations and capital allocation decisions.
Mahendra-Rajah, the outgoing CFO, will remain with Uber as a senior finance advisor to CEO Khosrowshahi until July 1, 2026. During his tenure, he helped Uber achieve investment-grade status, launched its first-ever share repurchase program, and steered the company through multiple major acquisitions.
Krishnamurthy's appointment marks Uber's third CFO change in just over three years. The rapid turnover highlights the company's evolving strategic priorities, as it shifts focus from building autonomous hardware to partnering with leading robotaxi technology providers like Waymo, Lucid, and Nuro.
The CFO transition underscores Uber's commitment to an "asset-light" autonomous vehicle strategy. Krishnamurthy, who serves on the board of Waabi—an autonomous trucking startup in which Uber recently increased its stake—has been a long-time internal advocate for self-driving technology investments.
During Uber's earnings call, Krishnamurthy emphasized the company's strong financial position. With 20% year-over-year revenue growth reaching $14.37 billion, he stated that Uber will
Uber's path forward involves aggressive expansion of robotaxi services. CEO Khosrowshahi stated that the company intends to become the largest facilitator of autonomous vehicle trips globally by 2029, supported by strategic partnerships and significant capital investment.
Beyond Krishnamurthy, Uber's leadership team includes several Indian executives in top positions. CTO Praveen Naga, Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal, and Global Head of Mobility Pradeep Parameswaran round out the company's diverse senior management team.
Uber maintains a significant technology presence in India with over 2,000 employees across Bengaluru and Hyderabad working on global product and engineering initiatives.
— Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber
Krishnamurthy's elevation to CFO signals that Uber is doubling down on its autonomous vehicle ambitions. With strong cash flows and strategic partnerships in place, the company aims to lead the global robotaxi market.
Investors and industry observers will closely watch how Krishnamurthy balances disciplined financial management with significant capital investments in autonomous technology over the coming years.
Do You Know?
Uber has more than three CFOs in just over three years. Nelson Chai (2018-2023) led Uber through its IPO and early post-IPO years before becoming CEO of DailyPay.
Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah followed (November 2023-February 2026), and now Balaji Krishnamurthy takes the reins, reflecting the company's rapid strategic evolution and shifting financial priorities.
Key Terms
• H-1B Visa: A U.S. immigration visa that allows American companies to hire skilled workers from outside the country. It has been a common pathway for Indian tech professionals to work in the United States.
• Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): Self-driving cars and vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence and sensors that operate without human intervention. Uber's new strategy focuses on partnering with AV technology companies rather than building autonomous hardware internally.
• Robotaxi: A driverless taxi service powered by autonomous vehicle technology. Uber aims to integrate robotaxis from multiple partners into its platform globally.
• CFO (Chief Financial Officer): The executive responsible for managing a company's financial planning, accounting, and financial reporting. This position is critical during periods of major strategic shifts and capital allocation decisions.
Asia91 Original