Tony West of PepsiCo. Photo Credit: Kristin Dietrich/Guerrero Howe

Uber Technologies Inc. has found its new chief legal officer in Tony West, who is currently executive vice president of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary at PepsiCo Inc. West will join Uber next month, according to a memo obtained by Corporate Counsel that the San Francisco-based company's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sent to staff Friday.

“Tony is exactly what Uber needs now,” Khosrowshahi wrote. “He has public company experience leading a global team of lawyers across more than 200 countries. As a former federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice official in the Obama Administration, he's well equipped to handle the investigations into our past practices. And at Pepsi, he has emphasized diversity on his team and across the company.”

A spokesperson for Uber declined to comment beyond the email, but said there is no plan to add a general counsel under West.

West, who did not immediately respond to request for comment, stepped into the role of general counsel at PepsiCo in November 2014.

Prior to going in-house, West served as Associate Attorney General of the United States under President Barack Obama from 2012 to 2014, after working as Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice for three years.

West was previously a partner at Morrison & Foerster for seven and a half years.

At PepsiCo, West will be replaced by Dave Yawman, who is stepping into the role immediately as executive vice president of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, according to a press release issued Friday.

“Over the last three years, Tony has greatly advanced our commitment to being one of the world's most ethical companies, strengthened our public policy and government affairs function, and demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to diversity,” said PepsiCo chief executive Indra Nooyi, in a press release. “He is also a good person, deeply committed to making the world a better place, and we wish him all the best on this next endeavor.”

West's years of experience will no doubt come in handy, as Uber currently faces a number of legal and regulatory woes. The company is dealing with a number of criminal probes from the Department of Justice, including an investigation into its use of a regulator-skirting tool called “Greyball.” Uber is also currently battling it out in court with Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Waymo over driverless car technology. And on Tuesday, three female engineers, two former employees and one current, sued the ride-hailing giant alleging unequal pay at the company.

Currently holding the top legal spot at Uber is chief legal officer Salle Yoo, who announced in September that she was planning to leave the company. In an email to her legal team, Yoo revealed she planned to stay on until a replacement was found to lead the legal department.

In his memo announcing West's hire, Khosrowshahi thanked Yoo for “all of her hard work in helping build Uber into the incredible company that touches so many drivers and riders all over the world” and for all she is doing to ensure West's “transition is as smooth as possible.”

The Uber spokesperson said no date has been given for Yoo's departure, but “she's going to help Tony get settled before moving on.”