Balaji Krishnamurthy named chief financial officer of Uber

Balaji Krishnamurthy has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Uber Technologies, stepping into one of the most influential leadership roles in the global technology and mobility sector. The appointment, effective February 16, 2026, places a South Asian executive at the financial helm of one of the most recognizable American companies in the world.

Uber Technologies Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, operates across ride-hailing, delivery, freight, and mobility services in dozens of countries. As Chief Financial Officer, Krishnamurthy will oversee the company’s global finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, investor relations, accounting, tax, treasury, and strategic capital allocation. The CFO role at a publicly traded company of Uber’s scale is not merely operational. It is central to long-term strategy, market confidence, and corporate governance.

Krishnamurthy joined Uber in 2019 and most recently served as Vice President of Strategic Finance. In that role, he played a key part in guiding the company through complex macroeconomic shifts, post-pandemic recovery dynamics, and evolving global market conditions. His elevation to CFO reflects both institutional continuity and executive trust in his ability to steer Uber’s financial direction during a critical phase of growth and optimization.

Before Uber, Krishnamurthy built a career in high-level finance and strategic advisory roles. His professional background includes experience in investment banking and corporate strategy, where he developed expertise in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and operational scaling. That combination of analytical rigor and operating insight is increasingly valued in large technology firms navigating public market scrutiny and global expansion pressures.

Krishnamurthy succeeds Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah in the CFO position. Leadership transitions at this level are closely watched by investors and analysts because they often signal shifts in capital discipline, cost management priorities, and long-term strategic direction. In Uber’s case, the appointment reinforces a focus on financial efficiency, profitability metrics, and disciplined expansion in core and adjacent markets.

For South Asian representation in corporate America, this appointment is particularly significant. Chief Financial Officers of Fortune 500 and near-Fortune 500 companies occupy one of the most powerful roles in business. They shape investor narratives, influence mergers and acquisitions decisions, manage billions in capital, and work directly alongside chief executive officers and boards of directors. Having an Indian-origin executive assume this position at a globally recognized American company reflects the continued rise of South Asian professionals in top-tier corporate leadership.

Over the past two decades, South Asian Americans have become increasingly visible in technology leadership, particularly in engineering and chief executive roles. The CFO pathway, however, represents a different form of institutional authority. Finance chiefs must balance regulatory compliance, market expectations, long-term investment strategies, and shareholder returns. They operate at the intersection of operational reality and public market perception. Krishnamurthy’s appointment underscores how South Asian executives are not only founding startups or leading product teams but are also entrusted with financial stewardship at the highest levels.

Uber’s broader trajectory makes the timing of this leadership shift especially relevant. The company has spent recent years strengthening profitability, refining its business model, and optimizing operational margins across mobility and delivery services. Financial leadership during this stage requires disciplined forecasting, global tax planning, currency risk management, and strategic capital deployment. The CFO must also communicate clearly with institutional investors and analysts in an environment shaped by interest rate fluctuations, geopolitical risk, and rapid technological change.

Krishnamurthy’s promotion from within the organization signals internal stability. Companies often face turbulence when bringing in external finance chiefs unfamiliar with operational culture. By elevating an executive who already understands Uber’s systems, revenue models, and growth challenges, the company reinforces continuity while positioning itself for disciplined evolution.

From a governance standpoint, the CFO works closely with the board of directors on audit matters, compliance structures, and long-term financial risk management. In a multinational technology firm operating across diverse regulatory environments, this responsibility carries global implications. Uber’s footprint spans North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and beyond. Financial oversight at that scale demands not only technical acumen but cross-border coordination and regulatory sophistication.

Krishnamurthy’s appointment also contributes to a broader narrative about the maturation of immigrant-origin leadership within American corporations. South Asian Americans have long been prominent in medicine, academia, entrepreneurship, and engineering. Increasingly, they are occupying core executive posts that determine enterprise-wide financial strategy and shareholder outcomes. Such visibility matters not only symbolically but structurally. It expands networks of mentorship, influences board recruitment pipelines, and reshapes perceptions of leadership norms.

At a time when diversity conversations in corporate America are evolving, appointments like this demonstrate progress rooted in merit, performance, and institutional trust. Krishnamurthy’s rise reflects years of financial leadership experience and internal credibility. It also reinforces that South Asian executives are integral contributors to the strategic architecture of major U.S. enterprises.

For young professionals tracking pathways into corporate leadership, this moment provides a clear signal: financial strategy and disciplined capital management remain central to corporate influence. Technical expertise in finance, paired with strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration, can open doors to the highest levels of decision-making authority.

As Uber continues to navigate competitive pressures in mobility, autonomous technologies, delivery logistics, and global expansion, its financial leadership will shape how the company allocates capital and communicates performance. In that context, Balaji Krishnamurthy’s appointment is not just a personnel change. It is a milestone for corporate governance at Uber and a notable moment for South Asian American leadership in the United States.

Key Takeaways About Balaji Krishnamurthy

  • Appointed Chief Financial Officer of Uber Technologies effective February 16, 2026.
  • Previously served as Vice President of Strategic Finance at Uber.
  • Steps into one of the most senior executive roles at a major U.S. public company.
  • Represents growing South Asian American leadership in Fortune-scale corporations.
  • Will oversee global finance strategy, investor relations, and capital allocation at Uber.

Know of an achievement or contribution that deserves to be highlighted? Please share with us.

Have a passion for the South Asian community and writing? Consider writing for us.