She is known to create “emotional connections between people and the products they love, ” Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a statement.
Bozoma Saint John — an Apple executive who has played a prominent role in recent product launches — is leaving Apple to become chief brand officer at Uber.
“Boz has a long track record of successfully creating emotional connections between people and the products they love, ” Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a statement to CNBC. “Her creativity and deep understanding of consumers will allow us to build the same love and appreciation for Uber’s brand as we’ve built for Uber’s service.”
TechCrunch previously reported Saint John’s move to Uber, citing a tip and multiple sources at Uber. Axios previously reported Saint John’s departure from Apple, but not her new role at Uber.
Saint John, one of the few executives at Apple who has an active social media presence, has become one of the most prominent faces of the company. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Saint John, who served as global consumer marketing head at Apple Music and iTunes, is leaving Apple at a crucial time. Apple Music, which launched two years ago, has seen a quick expansion, hitting 27 million subscribers and seeing new original content and app integrations.
Her new employer, Uber, is under even more pressure, fielding accusations of gender bias and sexual harassment, run-ins with drivers and conflicts with regulators. Uber has also recently hired management academic Frances Frei as senior vice president of leadership strategy, according to Recode.
