Uber has hired David Plouffe, President Obama's former campaign manager and White House adviser, as its "senior vice president of policy and strategy."
Plouffe's position with the private-car company will begin next month. Plouffe, 47, will be responsible for Uber's global branding and communications — essentially, he'll be Uber's campaign manager.
Plouffe was responsible for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and plans to "run Uber's communication efforts much like a political race," The New York Times reports. His hiring signals that the company is getting serious about overcoming regulations, both domestic and abroad, that threaten to slow its advance.
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"We're on an inexorable path of progress here," Plouffe told the Times. "Uber is making transportation safer. It's providing jobs; it's cutting down on drunk and distracted driving. I think the mission is really important."
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