Exclusive: Uber's west India general manager quits

US-based ride-hailing app Uber Technologies Inc., which competes with homegrown cab aggregator Ola, has lost another executive in India. The company’s regional general manager for west India, Shailesh Sawlani, has resigned, a person in the know told TechCircle on condition of anonymity.

Sawlani’s last working day was 31 July, the person added.

The outgoing Uber India executive confirmed his exit to TechCircle over a call, without disclosing further details.

"Shailesh (Sawlani)'s contribution to Uber's growth in India is valuable. As one of the first few employees of Uber in India, he has played a crucial role is building the business in Maharashtra. We wish him all the success in the next chapter of his professional journey,” said an Uber spokesperson in an emailed statement to TechCircle.

Sawlani joined Uber India as general manager in April 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Uber's west India operations is now being led Prabhjeet Singh, director of operations and business head of Uber India and South Asia, the person mentioned above said.

Abhinav Patwa, general manager, is also part of the firm's west India operations, based in Mumbai, another person in the know told TechCircle.

Sawlani is an MBA from ESADE Business and Law School, Spain.

On Monday, Prasidha Menon, Uber's communications head for India and South Asia, left the firm to join budget hotel aggregator OYO Rooms, a company statement said.

In May this year, Uber had elevated its India chief, Amit Jain, as the head of operations for Asia-Pacific.

In June, the company hired Pradeep Parameswaran as its new president for India and South Asia.

In June last year, Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick had resigned as chief executive following a tumultuous six months of scandal. He had stepped down in the face of pressure from Uber’s largest investors and was replaced by Dara Khosrowshahi.

In November last year, Jambu Palaniappan, who led Uber's expansion into India in 2013, quit the firm in April this year.

For the financial year ended March 2017, Uber India's revenue growth flattened.

Mumbai-based Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd registered standalone operating revenue of Rs 410 crore, up 9.3% from Rs 375 crore in the previous financial year, the firm’s filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) show.

The company’s standalone profit after tax marginally rose to Rs 19 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 18.7 crore in the year prior.

In 2015-16, Uber India Systems had registered more than five-fold growth compared to 2014-15 when it made operating revenue of Rs 69 crore.

In 2016-17, the company’s total expenses stood at Rs 380 crore, compared to Rs 346 crore in the previous financial year.