GoPuff’s Europe leaders exit as ultrafast delivery sector struggles

GoPuff’s European boss is leaving the food delivery company as the US ultrafast delivery company battles to break into the UK.

Steven Harman, a former Amazon and Revolut executive who was appointed last year to lead GoPuff’s European Arm, told staff today he was leaving the business.

In a resignation letter seen by the Telegraph, Mr Harman said he was leaving for personal reasons. “Now was the right time for me to step out of the business and take some time off,” Mr Harman said.

A source told The Telegraph that Alex Ootes, another European vice president at GoPuff, is also to leave the business.

GoPuff, which was valued at $15bn last year amid soaring valuations for food delivery companies, has been battling ultrafast delivery rivals such as Zapp and Gorillas in London and across Europe. It also faces competition from Deliveroo, which has launched its own ultrafast offering to compete with its new rivals. The companies offer grocery deliveries in as little as ten minutes.

However, with rising inflation and venture capital funding drying up, GoPuff has been forced into job cuts. It has already slashed 1,500 jobs as part of a restructuring.

A GoPuff spokesman declined to immediately comment.