Cohler’s brinksmanship dismayed almost everyone in the room. Instead of following a fair process to determine the best candidate, Benchmark was effectively holding the board hostage to approve the candidate of their choice. Cohler’s speech may have cost Whitman the job. After the next secret ballot, the votes came in again, but this time it was not deadlocked. It was five to three in favor of Khosrowshahi. The group had chosen Uber’s next CEO.
