Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of Gojek, a ride hailing app and probably the biggest digital company in Indonesia has quit as the Chief Executive officer of the company to join the cabinet of Indonesian president Joko Widodo. It is yet to be seen what role the entrepreneur will be offered. However, it shows the importance the President is placing on the internet sector as a vehicle of development of the Island nation.
The company has announced that Kevin Aluwi and Andre Soelistyo will be taking over as Co-CEO’s and their future policy will be announced soon. No major disruption of the company’s operations is expected given its experienced managers at the helm of affairs.
ALSO READ: Your World the week ahead
The world’s fourth most populous nation with a population of 264 million has a booming smart phone market which helps various digital companies like Gojek.
Makarim started the company in 2010 as a call centre arranging couriers in Jakarta. The calls were done manually and drivers in bikes were arranged. Makarim had to work in another start up to sustain this one.
It was only in 2014 with funding from the Private Equity investor Northstar group that the company launched a mobile application and by January 2015 it couldn’t cope with the demand.
Today the company has over 2 million drivers; 400,000 driver partners and its application has been downloaded by over 155 million times in South East Asia. The company counts Google amongst its major investors.
Nadiem also hails from a family of nationalist who have fought for the country’s independence.
The company is now expanding and planning to invest in India.