Kalanick Loyalists Move to Force Benchmark Off Uber’s Board<br />“We do not feel it was either prudent or necessary from the standpoint of shareholder value, to hold the company hostage to a public relations disaster by demanding Mr. Kalanick’s resignation, along with other concessions, on a few hours’ notice<br />and within weeks of a personal tragedy, under threat of public scandal,” said the letter, which was signed by Mr. Pishevar and claimed to represent other shareholders.<br />In a letter sent to Benchmark on Friday, Shervin Pishevar, a venture capitalist at Sherpa Capital, demanded<br />that the firm relinquish its seat on the Uber board and sell its shares in the company to outside investors, according to a copy of the letter obtained by .<br />SAN FRANCISCO — A group of Uber investors have formed an alliance to push Benchmark, a major shareholder in the<br />ride-hailing company, off the board of directors, the latest escalation of a public feud in Uber’s top ranks.<br />The letter did not specify how many people beyond its three signatories — including Ronald Burkle, chairman of Yucaipa Companies,<br />and Adam Leber, a partner at Maverick Management — support Mr. Pishevar in his opposition to Benchmark.<br />The request came less than 24 hours after Benchmark filed a lawsuit against Travis Kalanick, Uber’s<br />former chief executive, accusing him of fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.<br />In an email to its employees, the Uber board said “it has urged both parties to resolve the matter cooperatively<br />and quickly, and the board is taking steps to facilitate that process
