Uber confirmed that Lee would be starting next month. Lee is the latest C-suite hire, which includes CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, chief legal officer Tony West, and chief operating officer Barney Harford. Uber hired Khosrowshahi in late August.
Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder had made numerous recommendations stemming from the fallout with former engineer, Susan Fowler, who left the firm after one year. Fowler publicly blogged last February about being sexually harassed by her manager and HR’s failure to address her concerns.
One of Holder's recommendations was for Uber to “elevate the visibility of the current Head of Diversity, Bernard Coleman, and emphasize the outreach component of Mr. Coleman’s position.” Holder also recommended that Coleman’s position be renamed Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and that he report directly to the CEO or COO.
But, Uber choose Lee for the new role. “We will be real partners in a lot of this work,” Lee says. “Bernard and I have had some conversations about what his role will be.”