Uber Picks Up Lyft's Former COO Travis VanderZanden left one San Francisco-based ridesharing company for another.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Uber and Lyft have reportedly been engaging in some shady competition for each other's drivers, but now they are going after each other's executives.

Less than two months after leaving his post as Lyft's COO, Travis VanderZanden has joined ridesharing front-runner Uber. The company indicated he would assist with Uber's expansion into other countries.

"We are thrilled to welcome Travis to Uber. After he left his previous employer, we talked to Travis and it was clear his experience and skills would help us strengthen our operations as we grow, expand and evaluate markets internationally," Uber said in a statement.

Related: Lyft COO Exits, Says Controversial NYC Launch Isn't the Reason

VanderZanden left Lyft in August shortly after the company's controversial launch in New York City. He insisted his departure had nothing to do with the Big Apple rollout.

His appointment at Uber comes as the company continues to eye new goals and markets. Just last week, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick talked about his vision for using Uber technology to take a million cars off the road. Kalanick was at the Institute of Directors Annual Conference in London, but the company's blog post summarizing his speech hinted at Uber technology spreading to Rio and Singapore. And the company has said previously that it intends to be "everywhere."

Related: Lyft and Uber Trade Barbs Over Cancelled Rides
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Ideas

This Teacher Sells Digital Downloads for $10. Her Side Hustle Now Makes Six Figures a Month: 'It Seems Too Good to Be True, But It's Not.'

When one middle school teacher needed to make some extra income, she started a remote side hustle with no physical products and incredibly low overhead. Now she brings in six figures each month, and offers courses teaching others how to do the same.

Leadership

How to Win Over the Room With Effective Persuasion Skills

The art of persuasion is not just about the notes, the data, and the pitch; it's about creating a connection that resonates with the audience. We explore how a blend of story, active listening, and genuine interaction can not only capture attention but also win hearts and minds, setting the stage for achieving success in any meeting.

Living

'I Haven't Ticked All the Boxes Yet.' Hilary Duff Reveals Her Next Venture After More Than 2 Decades in the Spotlight — and the Surprisingly Relatable Key to Her Enduring Success

The actor talks entrepreneurship, secrets to success and her latest role as chief brand director for Below 60°, a product line of air fragrances.

Leadership

Great Leaders Must Be Great Coaches — Here's How to Become One

To be a successful leader, you must become an expert in how to help others grow and develop. Here's a research-driven approach for entrepreneurial leaders to coach and effectively develop their teams.

Business News

An Ivy League University Is Teaching the Secret of Taylor Swift's Success

Several major universities have added courses dedicated to studying Swift's star power.

Marketing

Google Is About to Delete Inactive Accounts. Here's How to Avoid A Massive Gmail Bounce Rate.

Google will start deleting inactive accounts soon. For businesses like yours, that means many Gmail contacts will probably bounce. Here's how you can avoid that – and keep your business emails landing in the inbox.