Uber chief to take leave from company

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick told employees on Tuesday he plans to take time away from the company, and could return in a diminished role.

His move comes after a months-long investigation of management and practices at the firm, which is facing a number of scandals.

A female former employee had written a public account of her time at the company marred by sexual harassment.

Uber's board voted unanimously on Sunday in favor of the recommendations from the investigation during an approximately hour-long meeting at its headquarters in San Francisco. Kalanick was not at the meeting.

In the email to staff, Kalanick said the decision to take leave, which also comes after the sudden loss of his mother in a recent boating accident in which his father was injured as well, is part of an effort to create "Uber 2.0".

"For Uber 2.0 to succeed there is nothing more important than dedicating my time to building out the leadership team," Kalanick wrote. "But if we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve."

Kalanick's email did not say how long he would be away from the firm.

(CGTN)