Will Shu
William Shu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day Connecticut, United States |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo |
William Shu (, born December 1979) is a businessman holding American and British nationality, recognized as the co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo, a digital food delivery platform active in more than 200 cities across 11 countries.
Early life and education
Shu was born in Connecticut in December 1979 to Taiwanese American parents. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University in 2001. Shu began his professional journey as an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley in London. In 2010, he pursued further education in the United States, obtaining an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania by 2012.
Career
Prior to establishing Deliveroo, Shu held analyst positions at S.A.C. Capital Advisors and ESO Capital and worked as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley. In 2013, together with childhood friend and software developer Greg Orlowski, he launched Deliveroo. The concept was inspired by Shu’s own experience working late hours at Morgan Stanley and observing the scarcity of quality food delivery options.
During Deliveroo’s initial eight months, Shu personally handled deliveries to better understand customer needs. The company started its operations exclusively in London before expanding internationally to cities such as Paris, Berlin, and Dublin by 2015. By November 2017, Deliveroo’s valuation exceeded £1.5 billion, with a presence in over 150 cities across 12 countries.
In February 2016, Orlowski stepped down from his position as chief technology officer to prioritize family responsibilities in Chicago. Shu continues to engage directly with the business by occasionally taking on shifts as a Deliveroo driver within London.
Controversy
In 2016, Shu attracted criticism after increasing his salary by 22.5% to £125,000 amid ongoing debates over the employment status of delivery riders and company financial losses. Administrative costs, driven by hiring additional personnel and establishing a London office, escalated from £28.8 million to £142.2 million, impacting overall profitability. Additionally, Shu granted nearly £4.5 million worth of share bonuses to directors and several employees at headquarters.
Deliveroo has faced legal scrutiny similar to other gig economy firms concerning whether its delivery riders qualify as employees or independent contractors. Four judicial decisions, including a Court of Appeal ruling in 2021, have consistently affirmed that Deliveroo’s riders are self-employed contractors.
Personal life
Shu currently lives in London.