Uber hires Rent.com's Amit Jain to head operations in India

[TOKYO] Uber Technologies Inc hired Amit Jain, the former president of Rent.com, to head operations in India as the ride-hailing application company expands in its largest market outside the US.

Mr Jain will run all business strategy, operations and expansion in the nation, the San Francisco-based company said in a statement on its website Sunday.

Uber counts India as its fastest-growing market and offers service in 11 cities locally. The company's safety record was called into question in December and its services were banned in Delhi after a local rider said she was raped by an Uber driver. The company said in January it had applied to be regulated under a local taxi system and will hire drivers who have passed background checks.

Uber said last month it would begin experimenting with allowing riders in the Indian city of Hyderabad to pay in cash, the first city where it's been tried by the company.

Mr Jain previously also held positions at TPG Capital, Nexeo Solutions and McKinsey & Co, according to Uber's statement.

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