Uber unveils former banker as new UK chairwoman

Former Bank of England adviser and ex-M&S executive Laurel Powers-Freeling named as new chair of embattled taxi app

Uber has unveiled former Bank of England adviser Laurel Powers-Freeling as the new chair of its UK operations, as it battles to stave off a ban on operating in London.

Powers-Freeling, who was born in the US but took British citizenship in 2003, will oversee operations at the ride-hailing app at a crucial juncture for the business that claims to have 5 million customers in the UK, served by 50,000 drivers.