Dara Khosrowshahi

Dara Khosrowshahi
Name	Dara Khosrowshahi
Birth date	28 May 1969
Birth place	Tehran, Iran
Education	Brown University (BS)
Occupation	Business executive
Title	CEO of Uber
Spouse	Sydney Shapiro

Dara Khosrowshahi is an Iranian-American business executive who has served as the chief executive officer of Uber since August 2017. He previously spent over a decade as the CEO of Expedia Group, overseeing its expansion into a global online travel agency. Khosrowshahi's leadership is characterized by a focus on operational discipline, profitability, and navigating complex regulatory environments, steering Uber through its initial public offering and toward sustained financial growth.

Early life and education

Dara Khosrowshahi was born in Tehran, Iran, into a prominent family; his uncle, Khaled El-Masri, was a founder of the Consumer Electronics Show. Following the Iranian Revolution, his family fled to Tarrytown, New York, in the late 1970s. He attended the Hackley School before enrolling at Brown University, where he graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering.

Career before Uber

Khosrowshahi began his career as an analyst at the investment bank Allen & Company, where he worked for several years. In 1998, he joined USA Networks (later IAC/InterActiveCorp), which was led by Barry Diller. At IAC, he held various executive roles, including chief financial officer of the IAC Travel division. His performance led to his appointment in 2005 as CEO of Expedia, Inc., a subsidiary of IAC. Under his leadership, Expedia was spun off as an independent public company and grew through acquisitions like Travelocity, Orbitz, and HomeAway, becoming a dominant force in the online travel industry.

Uber tenure

Khosrowshahi was appointed CEO of Uber in August 2017, succeeding co-founder Travis Kalanick during a period of significant corporate turmoil. His early priorities included addressing the company's toxic culture, settling a high-profile intellectual property lawsuit with Alphabet's Waymo, and resolving investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice. He guided Uber through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in May 2019. His strategy has pivoted the company toward achieving profitability, focusing on core segments like ride-hailing and Uber Eats, while divesting non-core assets such as the ATG self-driving unit and Uber Elevate. Key initiatives under his watch include expanding into new markets like Japan and forging partnerships with companies like Marriott International and Transit Wireless.

Other ventures and investments

Beyond his executive roles, Khosrowshahi serves on the board of directors for Expedia Group and the Betaworks studio. He is also a personal investor in several technology startups, including the financial services company Robinhood and the cloud computing platform Snowflake Inc.. His investment philosophy often focuses on disruptive technology and consumer internet sectors, and he has been involved with philanthropic venture funds supporting education and entrepreneurship.

Personal life and philanthropy

Khosrowshahi is married to philanthropist Sydney Shapiro; the couple has four children and resides in San Francisco. He is a notable advocate for immigration reform and refugee causes, having spoken publicly about his own experience as a refugee from Iran. His philanthropic efforts include serving on the board of the International Rescue Committee and supporting educational initiatives at institutions like Brown University and the Hackley School. He and his wife have made significant donations to the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Khosrowshahi has received numerous accolades. He was named "Businessperson of the Year" by Fortune magazine in 2019 and has consistently appeared on the Forbes list of the "World's Most Influential CEOs." In 2022, he received the "Distinguished Leadership Award" from the Asia Society for his professional achievements and humanitarian work. Expedia Group also earned recognition as one of "America's Best Employers" by Forbes during his tenure as CEO.

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American chief executives Category:American people of Iranian descent Category:Brown University alumni Category:Expedia people Category:Hackley School alumni Category:Immigrants to the United States Category:Uber people