Snapchat loses its vice president of public policy and communications to Uber

Snapchat Inc.’s vice president of public policy and communications, hired a year ago from Google Inc., is now leaving for the same position at ride-hailing app Uber Technologies Inc.

The hiring of Jill Hazelbaker, confirmed Tuesday, gives fast-growing Uber another political veteran to push back against authorities worldwide deciding what rules the world’s most valuable private technology company must play by.

The company, with a private-market valuation of more than $50 billion, already has on board David Plouffe, former campaign manager for President Obama, and Rachel Whetstone, Hazelbaker’s old boss at Google.

Fast-expanding Uber is dealing with lawsuits in California that could turn its workforce of contract drivers into employees and lead operating costs to skyrocket. Some cities want to ban the car service altogether. Other authorities want to see stricter background checks on drivers and other requirements aimed at protecting consumers.

Snapchat has had troubles, but not of the same magnitude. The entertainment app company with more than 100 million users has drawn scorn from residents in Marina del Rey and Venice, where its headquarters have spread out across several buildings housing several hundred employees. It’s also faced scrutiny about security and privacy practices.

Hazelbaker and Uber didn’t immediately respond to requests to comment. But Uber represents a more exciting challenge at this point, according to a person close to her. Tech news outlet Re/code first reported the hiring.

Snapchat’s dealt with significant management turnover over the past year, with executives leaving for family reasons or mismatches on culture and strategy.

In Hazelbaker’s case, she held senior positions within the political campaigns of John McCain and Michael Bloomberg before coming to Google. At the search and advertising giant, her responsibilities included overseeing internal, government and product communications across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Hazelbaker moved to Los Angeles last October to take the Snapchat job. Uber is based in San Francisco.

Snapchat said, “We wish Jill all the best.”

Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick, who visited Los Angeles last week, said in a prepared statement that he’s pumped to work with her.

“She’s an optimistic leader who understands how to campaign, which is so important to Uber’s success,” he said.

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Times staff writer Tracey Lien contributed to this report.