Uber’s Michael Said to Retain Support After Remarks

Emil Michael, the Uber Technologies Inc. executive whose criticisms of journalists led to calls for his firing this week, is so far withstanding that pressure.

That’s because the 42-year-old executive has been central to the startup’s growth, playing a role in everything from a financing round in June that valued Uber at $17 billion, to its partnerships and international expansion, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Earlier this week, Uber unveiled a partnership with music-streaming service Spotify Ltd. that Michael helped to hammer out, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the situation is sensitive.