Makarim’s (pic) appointment is in line with Widodo’s publicly stated preference to include professionals and millennials in his second-term team. — Reuters
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has offered the 35-year-old co-founder of the country’s biggest startup, Gojek, a position in his new cabinet, affirming the importance of the Internet sector in propelling South-East Asia’s largest economy.
Nadiem Makarim on Oct 21 told reporters he has accepted a cabinet post after resigning with immediate effect as chief executive officer of the ride-hailing giant he started nine years ago. That leaves the US$10bil (RM41.84bil) startup, one of South-East Asia’s largest, without its most visible leader at a time it’s pursuing funding to compete with arch-rival Grab Holdings Inc. Gojek said President Andre Soelistyo and co-founder Kevin Aluwi will take the helm as co-CEOs. The company will outline its next steps in the coming days, Gojek said in an emailed statement.
