Uber hires an ex-Merrill Lynch exec as its new CFO, taking it one step closer to its long-awaited IPO

Uber

• Uber has a new chief financial officer, the company announced Tuesday.
• Nelson Chai, the former CFO of Merrill Lynch, will take on the role, which has been open since 2015.
• Chai is a key hire in Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's plan to take the company public in 2019.

After three years of searching, Uber has filled a key executive role necessary to move forward with its plans to hold an initial public offering in 2019. 

Nelson Chai has joined Uber as its CFO, the company announced Tuesday.