Uber names Rent.com's Amit Jain as president of India operations

US-based taxi hailing app Uber has appointed Amit Jain president of its India operations.

"In this role, Amit will be running all business strategy, operations, and growth in a market of global strategic importance for Uber," the company said in a statement.

Prior to this, Jain was president of Rent.com, a technology company in the US dedicated to giving renters a free and convenient way to find a perfect place to live.

"His experience as an operator, building and scaling world-class teams will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of Uber India's growth. Success in India is a global priority for us, and I know Amit's leadership and passion for Uber's mission will be transformational as we redefine urban mobility for hundreds of millions of Indians," Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said.

Uber was launched in India 19 months ago and now the country is Uber's largest market outside the United States and also the fastest growing, it said.

"In India, Uber is helping create tens of thousands of new jobs, empowering drivers with higher earnings potential and flexible working hours, and providing millions of consumers with a safe, reliable and convenient mode of transport," Jain said.

Recently, the government has asked Internet service providers to block websites of app-based taxi operators such as Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola cabs.

All app-based cab services were banned in the national capital last year after a driver of Uber was allegedly accused of raping a female passenger.