Andela, the global talent marketplace, is undergoing a significant leadership change as co-founder and CEO Jeremy Johnson steps down.

Taking the helm is Carrol Chang, Uber’s former Global Head of Driver and Courier Operations, who is expected to bring fresh energy and expertise to the company.

Chang’s appointment will be effective from September 17, 2024, when she will also join Andela’s Board of Directors. Johnson, while stepping down as CEO, will remain on the Andela Board.

I’m deeply grateful for the privilege to lead Andela,” Chang commented on the appointment. “It’s rare to find a mission-driven company with the potential to create a category-defining business. The global talent market represents an USD 8.5 T opportunity, and Andela has a decade of experience connecting brilliant talent with global opportunities. I look forward to writing the next great chapter with the Andela team.”

Departing co-founder, Johnson, also commented about the leadership change, saying “After ten years, I’m deeply proud of the change we’ve helped catalyze,” “However, it’s clear that global hiring is at the beginning of a complete digital transformation, and Carrol is the perfect leader for Andela’s next stage of growth.”

This leadership transition follows other significant executive hires at Andela, including the appointment of Kishore Rachapudi as Chief Revenue Officer in March. 

Rachapudi, who previously held key positions at Thoughtworks, Wipro Technologies, and Tech Mahindra, was also brought on to help spearhead Andela’s growth initiatives. 

His addition, alongside Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Wenzel from Amazon and Chief Business Officer Tony Capasso from Auctane, is expected to drive Andela’s ambitions for the future, which could include an initial public offering (IPO) and an exit for its investors.

Chang’s appointment completes the leadership team aimed at taking Andela public, potentially making it one of the leading talent marketplace unicorns. 

“Andela exists because of the vision and determination of Jeremy Johnson,” said Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of the Andela Board of Directors. “Jeremy has grown Andela from a revolutionary idea into one of the most impactful and highly regarded start-ups in the world. We are deeply grateful to him and respect his decision to bring in a leader with deep marketplace experience to drive the next phase of growth. Carrol is uniquely poised to take Andela into the future.”

Founded in 2014, Andela has trained over 110,000 technologists across Africa and facilitated thousands of jobs for talent from more than 135 countries. What began as an innovative African start-up has grown into a leading global talent marketplace, becoming Africa’s first unicorn in the sector.

Chang’s arrival could be pivotal in guiding Andela through its next phase of growth. At Uber, Chang helped in expanding the company’s driver base to nearly 7 million people across 70 countries, boosting Uber’s USD 130 B ridesharing and delivery businesses. 

Her experience in scaling tech-enabled marketplaces, combined with leadership roles at McKinsey & Company, the Department of Homeland Security, and various global organizations, positions her well to steer Andela toward new opportunities.