Uber exec hanging on despite quip backlash

New York

EMIL Michael, the Uber Technologies executive whose criticisms of journalists led to calls for his firing, is so far withstanding that pressure.

That's because the 42-year-old executive has been central to the start-up's growth, playing a role in everything from a financing round in June that valued Uber at US$17 billion, to its partnerships and international expansion, according to people with knowledge of the matter.