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Uber elevates Balaji Krishnamurthy as CFO
CALIFORNIA: Uber has turned to an insider to mind the money. The ride-hailing giant has elevated Balaji Krishnamurthy as chief financial officer, tightening its grip on financial strategy as growth motors ahead.
The appointment takes effect on February 16, 2026. Krishnamurthy replaces Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, who will step down but stay on as a senior finance adviser to chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi until July 1, 2026.
Krishnamurthy is no stranger to Uber’s books. Currently vice president, strategic finance, he joined in 2019 and ran investor relations from 2020 to 2023, giving him a front-row seat to the firm’s market story.
Uber was keen to dampen any drama. Mahendra-Rajah’s departure, it said, has nothing to do with disputes over disclosures or accounting. His exit will count as a qualifying termination under the firm’s executive severance plan.
The reshuffle arrived alongside solid numbers. In the October–December quarter, trips climbed 22 per cent year on year to 3.8bn, powered by an 18 per cent rise in monthly active platform consumers. Gross bookings jumped 22 per cent to $54.1bn, while revenue rose 20 per cent to $14.4bn.
The message is clear: Uber’s engine is humming, and it wants a steady hand on the tiller. In a business built on speed, the real test is not just how fast you grow, but how well you count the fare at the end of the ride.
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Hisense launches Intelli Cool Pro air conditioners in India
New range brings rapid inverter cooling, Wi Fi voice control and R32 refrigerant
MUMBAI: Hisense is turning up the cool factor in India’s home appliance market with the launch of its Intelli Cool Pro Series room air conditioners, a new premium range designed to combine faster cooling with smarter connectivity.
Announced on 9 March, the launch expands the company’s residential air conditioner portfolio in India and brings its latest inverter technology and connected features to Indian homes.
At the centre of the new range is Hisense’s QSD rapid inverter technology, designed to accelerate compressor performance and bring down room temperature quickly after the unit is switched on. The system is built on the company’s nine generations of inverter development and aims to deliver stable cooling, reduced power fluctuations and improved long term reliability.
The Intelli Cool Pro Series also features an AI smart mode that automatically adjusts cooling levels according to room conditions and user preferences. The goal is simple: maintain comfort while keeping energy consumption in check.
Beyond cooling, the company is pitching the new models as a solution for healthier indoor air. The units are equipped with a 4 in 1 healthy filter designed to capture fine particulate matter, while a self clean function helps maintain hygiene within the system and improves overall air quality inside the home.
Connectivity is another key focus. The air conditioners come with built in Wi Fi through the Hisense ConnectLife platform, allowing users to control and monitor their AC remotely using a smartphone. Voice control is supported in both English and Hindi, while features such as scheduling and temperature customisation make it possible to manage cooling settings from anywhere.
From an environmental perspective, the new range uses R32 refrigerant, which has a global warming potential around 65 per cent lower than the commonly used R410A refrigerant. The company says the shift supports its broader push towards more energy efficient and environmentally responsible appliances.
The Intelli Cool Pro Series is designed to deliver powerful and even cooling across different room sizes. It includes features such as quick chill technology with 3D airflow design, four way auto swing for uniform air distribution and long distance airflow to cool larger spaces effectively. Multiple sleep modes, quiet operation and stabiliser free performance are also part of the package.
Hisense India chief executive officer Pankaj Rana said modern air conditioning needs to go beyond basic cooling as consumers increasingly look for intelligent performance, energy efficiency and healthier indoor environments. He added that the Intelli Cool Pro Series combines rapid inverter technology, AI driven adaptability and smart connectivity to meet the evolving needs of Indian households.
Along with the Intelli Cool Pro Series, Hisense has also introduced the Intelli Cool Series and the Eco Cool Series in India, further expanding its presence in the country’s growing air conditioner market.
