為了扭轉(zhuǎn)長期虧損的局面,Lyft從一個不同尋常的地方聘請了一位新首席執(zhí)行官:一家非盈利機構(gòu)。
大衛(wèi)·里舍將于4月17日接替聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人洛根·格林(Logan Green)擔(dān)任這家拼車公司的首席執(zhí)行官。過去14年里,他一直負(fù)責(zé)管理非盈利機構(gòu)Worldreader,該機構(gòu)旨在讓世界各地的兒童更方便地獲取電子書資源。
這種背景(盡管值得稱贊)帶有一絲諷刺意味,因為Lyft上市以來從未實現(xiàn)過季度盈利,而里舍并沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)這一點。在接受《財富》雜志采訪時,這位Lyft新任首席執(zhí)行官表示,該公司正需要像他這樣在非營利領(lǐng)域有打拼經(jīng)歷的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。
“非營利機構(gòu)必須努力用最少的資源來解決世界上最棘手的難題。與其他行業(yè)相比,這只是很小的一部分。因此,我極其擅長花小錢辦大事。我認(rèn)為在Lyft(該公司利潤率偏低),這是一項非常重要的技能,所以我們必須提高效率。”
拼車公司實現(xiàn)盈利并不是世界上最棘手的難題之一,但對于一家市場份額被規(guī)模更大的競爭對手優(yōu)步(Uber)蠶食、受司機短缺等問題困擾的企業(yè)來說,這是一個大問題。韋德布什證券公司(Wedbush)分析師丹?艾夫斯(Dan Ives)在最近給投資者的一份說明中,將Lyft描述為“火車殘骸”,并稱里舍在重建Lyft在華爾街投資者心目中的信譽時,將面臨艱巨的任務(wù)。
可以肯定的是,57歲的里舍對殘酷的科技企業(yè)和拼車行業(yè)并不陌生。自2021年7月以來,他一直是Lyft董事會的董事。在創(chuàng)立Worldreader之前,他是第一位在亞馬遜擔(dān)任產(chǎn)品主管的人,并在微軟擔(dān)任高管。雖然Worldreader的非營利性質(zhì)意味著它不與私營機構(gòu)分享任何利潤,但這并不意味著該機構(gòu)的財務(wù)狀況非常糟糕。從2010年到2020年,里舍將該機構(gòu)的凈利潤從負(fù)數(shù)提高到近50萬美元。與此同時,作為其主要收入來源的捐款在2015年達到1050萬美元的高點后出現(xiàn)波動。
里舍表示,要讓Lyft扭虧為盈,就必須仔細(xì)研究該公司的成本結(jié)構(gòu),并確保載客量是健康的。
里舍說:“這就是制勝戰(zhàn)術(shù)。我們要了解乘客每次乘車的費用是多少,然后確保我們有足夠的載客量來彌補我們的成本,再然后是審視成本,確保成本與業(yè)務(wù)規(guī)模相匹配?!?/p>
影響Lyft載客量的一大關(guān)鍵因素是其平臺上是否有足夠多的司機可以提供服務(wù)。Lyft首席執(zhí)行官洛根·格林在5月份表示,該公司一直在努力解決司機短缺問題,但這項工作推進得像泰坦尼克號一樣緩慢。Lyft在10月份表示,司機供應(yīng)充足,并指出其活躍司機總數(shù)的季度同比增長是一年來最快的。但讓司機滿意可能很難,因為之前在激勵措施上的投資影響了Lyft的收益。而且司機通常對每單分成并不滿意。加州大學(xué)洛杉磯分校勞工中心2月份的一份報告發(fā)現(xiàn),隨著近年來車費的上漲,優(yōu)步和Lyft抽成比例提高,司機獲得的利潤更少了。
即便如此,從司機那里提取的服務(wù)費對Lyft來說也是不夠的。為了降低運營成本,該公司去年11月裁掉了13%的員工,約700人。就在幾個月前,Lyft凍結(jié)了招聘,解雇了數(shù)十名員工,并放棄了內(nèi)部租車服務(wù)。
Lyft在與優(yōu)步競爭時面臨著眾多挑戰(zhàn)(優(yōu)步占據(jù)了71%的拼車市場份額,而Lyft只占29%)。優(yōu)步在全球范圍內(nèi)運營,但Lyft只在北美運營,并且不打算像優(yōu)步那樣將業(yè)務(wù)拓展至送餐領(lǐng)域,以實現(xiàn)收入多元化。
然而,在里舍看來,在與優(yōu)步的競爭中,Lyft處于有利地位。里舍說:“我認(rèn)為,世界需要強有力的亞軍?!?/p>
周二,里舍在Lyft召開了全體會議,并在與Lyft聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人約翰·齊默(John Zimmer)共進午餐后接受了《財富》雜志的采訪。里舍似乎對將自己在非營利領(lǐng)域積攢的經(jīng)驗運用到管理Lyft方面持樂觀態(tài)度。
里舍說:“從最高層面上來講,各大企業(yè)都是一樣的。我的意思是,你必須賺的比你花的多。你必須創(chuàng)建這樣一種模式,即你表現(xiàn)越出色,賺得越多。我的意思是,事情就是這么簡單?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
為了扭轉(zhuǎn)長期虧損的局面,Lyft從一個不同尋常的地方聘請了一位新首席執(zhí)行官:一家非盈利機構(gòu)。
大衛(wèi)·里舍將于4月17日接替聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人洛根·格林(Logan Green)擔(dān)任這家拼車公司的首席執(zhí)行官。過去14年里,他一直負(fù)責(zé)管理非盈利機構(gòu)Worldreader,該機構(gòu)旨在讓世界各地的兒童更方便地獲取電子書資源。
這種背景(盡管值得稱贊)帶有一絲諷刺意味,因為Lyft上市以來從未實現(xiàn)過季度盈利,而里舍并沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)這一點。在接受《財富》雜志采訪時,這位Lyft新任首席執(zhí)行官表示,該公司正需要像他這樣在非營利領(lǐng)域有打拼經(jīng)歷的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。
“非營利機構(gòu)必須努力用最少的資源來解決世界上最棘手的難題。與其他行業(yè)相比,這只是很小的一部分。因此,我極其擅長花小錢辦大事。我認(rèn)為在Lyft(該公司利潤率偏低),這是一項非常重要的技能,所以我們必須提高效率?!?/p>
拼車公司實現(xiàn)盈利并不是世界上最棘手的難題之一,但對于一家市場份額被規(guī)模更大的競爭對手優(yōu)步(Uber)蠶食、受司機短缺等問題困擾的企業(yè)來說,這是一個大問題。韋德布什證券公司(Wedbush)分析師丹?艾夫斯(Dan Ives)在最近給投資者的一份說明中,將Lyft描述為“火車殘骸”,并稱里舍在重建Lyft在華爾街投資者心目中的信譽時,將面臨艱巨的任務(wù)。
可以肯定的是,57歲的里舍對殘酷的科技企業(yè)和拼車行業(yè)并不陌生。自2021年7月以來,他一直是Lyft董事會的董事。在創(chuàng)立Worldreader之前,他是第一位在亞馬遜擔(dān)任產(chǎn)品主管的人,并在微軟擔(dān)任高管。雖然Worldreader的非營利性質(zhì)意味著它不與私營機構(gòu)分享任何利潤,但這并不意味著該機構(gòu)的財務(wù)狀況非常糟糕。從2010年到2020年,里舍將該機構(gòu)的凈利潤從負(fù)數(shù)提高到近50萬美元。與此同時,作為其主要收入來源的捐款在2015年達到1050萬美元的高點后出現(xiàn)波動。
里舍表示,要讓Lyft扭虧為盈,就必須仔細(xì)研究該公司的成本結(jié)構(gòu),并確保載客量是健康的。
里舍說:“這就是制勝戰(zhàn)術(shù)。我們要了解乘客每次乘車的費用是多少,然后確保我們有足夠的載客量來彌補我們的成本,再然后是審視成本,確保成本與業(yè)務(wù)規(guī)模相匹配?!?/p>
影響Lyft載客量的一大關(guān)鍵因素是其平臺上是否有足夠多的司機可以提供服務(wù)。Lyft首席執(zhí)行官洛根·格林在5月份表示,該公司一直在努力解決司機短缺問題,但這項工作推進得像泰坦尼克號一樣緩慢。Lyft在10月份表示,司機供應(yīng)充足,并指出其活躍司機總數(shù)的季度同比增長是一年來最快的。但讓司機滿意可能很難,因為之前在激勵措施上的投資影響了Lyft的收益。而且司機通常對每單分成并不滿意。加州大學(xué)洛杉磯分校勞工中心2月份的一份報告發(fā)現(xiàn),隨著近年來車費的上漲,優(yōu)步和Lyft抽成比例提高,司機獲得的利潤更少了。
即便如此,從司機那里提取的服務(wù)費對Lyft來說也是不夠的。為了降低運營成本,該公司去年11月裁掉了13%的員工,約700人。就在幾個月前,Lyft凍結(jié)了招聘,解雇了數(shù)十名員工,并放棄了內(nèi)部租車服務(wù)。
Lyft在與優(yōu)步競爭時面臨著眾多挑戰(zhàn)(優(yōu)步占據(jù)了71%的拼車市場份額,而Lyft只占29%)。優(yōu)步在全球范圍內(nèi)運營,但Lyft只在北美運營,并且不打算像優(yōu)步那樣將業(yè)務(wù)拓展至送餐領(lǐng)域,以實現(xiàn)收入多元化。
然而,在里舍看來,在與優(yōu)步的競爭中,Lyft處于有利地位。里舍說:“我認(rèn)為,世界需要強有力的亞軍?!?/p>
周二,里舍在Lyft召開了全體會議,并在與Lyft聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人約翰·齊默(John Zimmer)共進午餐后接受了《財富》雜志的采訪。里舍似乎對將自己在非營利領(lǐng)域積攢的經(jīng)驗運用到管理Lyft方面持樂觀態(tài)度。
里舍說:“從最高層面上來講,各大企業(yè)都是一樣的。我的意思是,你必須賺的比你花的多。你必須創(chuàng)建這樣一種模式,即你表現(xiàn)越出色,賺得越多。我的意思是,事情就是這么簡單。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
In its effort to reverse its long running lack of profit, Lyft has hired a new chief executive from an odd place: a non-profit organization.
David Risher, who will replace cofounder Logan Green as CEO of the ridesharing company on April 17, has spent the past 14 years overseeing Worldreader, a non-profit group that makes digital books more accessible to children around the world.
If this background—laudable as it is—has a tint of irony given that Lyft has never managed to earn a quarterly profit in its history as a public company, Risher doesn’t see it. In an interview with Fortune, the new Lyft CEO made the case that a leader with the scrappy skills acquired in the non-profit world is precisely what the company needs.
“Nonprofits have to grapple with, hopefully solve, some of the world’s biggest problems, but with the smallest resources. It’s a fraction of a fraction of what other sectors are,” Risher said. “So I got really good at doing more with less and I think that’s a really important skill at a company like this, which, again, is a low margin business, so we got to be really efficient.”
Turning a profit at a rideshare company isn’t one of the world’s biggest problems, but it is a massive one for a business losing market share to larger rival Uber and struggling with a shortage of drivers, among other problems. In a recent note to investors, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives described Lyft as a “train wreck,” writing that Risher will have his work cut out as he seeks to rebuild Lyft’s credibility with Wall Street investors.
To be sure, Risher, 57, is not a novice to the cutthroat world of tech business and ride-sharing. He’s been a director on Lyft’s board since July 2021, and prior to founding Worldreader, he had been Amazon’s first head of product and an executive at Microsoft. And while Worldreader’s non-profit status means it doesn’t share any profit with private parties, it doesn’t mean the organization is a financial basket case. Risher pushed net income from the negatives to nearing half a million from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, contributions, its main source of revenue, fluctuated after reaching a high of $10.5 million in 2015.
Getting Lyft into the black will entail taking a close look at the company’s cost structure and making sure that the volume of rides on its network is healthy, Risher said.
“That’s the game plan. It’s to understand what the per ride contribution is and then make sure we’re driving enough volume to cover our costs and then look at costs and make sure they’re appropriate for the size of the business,” Risher said.
One key factor in the volume of rides Lyft enables is the supply of drivers on its platform. Lyft has struggled with a shortage of drivers, and the company’s efforts to boost the number of drivers had been moving as slowly as the Titanic, CEO Logan Green said in May. Lyft said in October that driver supply was strong, pointing to its fastest quarter-over-quarter growth in total active drivers in a year. But keeping drivers happy could be demanding since previous investment in incentives weighed on Lyft’s earnings. And drivers often haven’t been satisfied with their cut of rider’s payments. A February report by the UCLA Labor Center found that both Uber and Lyft took a larger share of drivers’ profits as fares increased in recent years.
Even then, drivers’ money hasn’t been enough for Lyft. To lower operating expenses, the company laid off 13% of its staff, about 700 employees, in November. The move came just a few months after Lyft implemented a hiring freeze, laid off dozens of employees, and dropped its in-house car rental service.
Lyft faces these challenges while competing with Uber, which dominates 71% of the rideshare market to Lyft’s 29%. While Uber operates globally, Lyft is only in North America and doesn’t plan to branch into the food delivery space as Uber has done to diversify its revenue.
To Risher, however, Lyft is in a good place when it comes to its competition with Uber. “I think the world wants and sort of needs a strong number two,” Risher said.
Talking to Fortune on Tuesday after an all hands meeting at Lyft and a lunch with cofounder John Zimmer, Risher seemed optimistic about translating his non profit skills over to Lyft.
“At the highest level, businesses are all kind of the same,” Risher said. “What I mean by that is you’ve got to make more than you spend. And you have to have a model that allows you to, the better you do, the more you make. I mean it’s kind of that simple.”