As India-based online cab aggregator Ola expands its operations in the United Kingdom, it appoints Ben Legg as the Managing Director to lead the business in that region. 

Ben will lead and develop the senior leadership team, drive strategy and operations and establish a UK nationwide presence by the end of 2018.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Ola, said, “We’re delighted to have a talented leader like Ben at the helm as we start our operations in the UK. Ben has a diverse set of experiences that span strategy and operations and is best placed to drive the development of the business in one of the world’s most evolved transportation markets. Ola is focused on building the future of mobility and Ben will help us to achieve this mission in the UK.”

 

Before joining Ola, Ben was leading AdParlor, the New York-based global marketing technology company as CEO for two years. Prior to that, he was Group CEO of Adknowledge, the digital advertising technology firm, between 2011 and 2016. He has also worked as Chief Operating Officer for Google Europe and has also held senior roles at Coca-Cola and McKinsey.

Before embarking on a corporate career, Ben was a Captain in the British Army’s Royal Engineers for 10 years, where he led various engineering organizations across the world.

Ben Legg, Managing Director of Ola UK, said, “I’m excited to be joining Ola as it launches in the UK and brings its compelling ride-hailing services to passengers at their fingertips. Ola is committed to working in partnership with policymakers and regulators in all local markets in the UK, to help ensure that our goals are aligned with theirs.

Ola recently also announced that it has obtained licenses to operate in Greater Manchester and South Wales, with the launch of operations in South Wales in the coming weeks. 

Ola’s entry into the UK follows its launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. Over 40,000 drivers across Australia have registered since its launch in February, completing millions of rides. Currently, Ola conducts one billion rides each year globally, with more than a million drivers and 125 million customers in over 110 cities.