Airbnb Appoints Pepijn Rijvers Chief Business Officer

Airbnb has named former Booking.com and Tripadvisor executive Pepijn Rijvers as its new chief business officer with immediate effect [1]. Rijvers takes direct control of Airbnb's Homes, Hotels, Global Markets, and Enterprise Operations units, succeeding Dave Stephenson, who steps down after an eight-year tenure to support the handover through the end of 2026 [1].

What divisions will Pepijn Rijvers oversee at Airbnb?

Rijvers assumes responsibility for Airbnb's Homes, Hotels, Global Markets, and Enterprise Operations divisions [1]. ShortTermRentalz reported that his direct remit covers the core accommodation unit as Airbnb pushes further into traditional lodging inventory and adjacent hospitality segments [1]. He takes over operational control immediately, guiding the company's continuous move beyond short-term residential rentals [1].

What background does Pepijn Rijvers bring to the role?

Rijvers brings more than a decade of leadership experience in digital accommodation marketplaces, having worked across both major online travel agencies and metasearch platforms [1]. He most recently worked as chief business officer at Tripadvisor Group, where he oversaw consumer operations, experiences, and hotel products [1]. Prior to his tenure at Tripadvisor, Rijvers spent 13 years at Booking.com in several senior posts focused on international expansion, performance marketing, and accommodation supply [1]. During his time at Booking.com, he helped build the platform's dedicated homes division and later served as managing director of accommodations [1].

Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky pointed to that operational history as a clear asset [1]. According to ShortTermRentalz, Chesky stated that Rijvers' background at Booking.com provided him with an understanding of how distinct business models operate in digital travel [1]. Chesky noted that Booking.com serves guests who already have a clear destination in mind, whereas Airbnb intends to center its expansion on destination discovery and shaping traveler decisions on activities and lodging [1].

Why is Dave Stephenson stepping down after eight years?

Stephenson will leave Airbnb at the close of 2026 after serving the company for eight years across multiple executive posts [1]. He joined the firm and spent five years as chief financial officer, navigating operations through the travel downturn of the pandemic and taking the business public in its 2020 initial public offering [1]. He then stepped up to become Airbnb's first chief business officer, supervising the creation of its dedicated Hotels division along with updated Services and Experiences categories [1]. Stephenson remains active within Airbnb through the end of 2026 to ensure an orderly operational transition [1].

How is Airbnb restructuring its internal executive leadership?

Stephenson's departure prompted a wider corporate reorganisation across internal personnel, strategy, and partner teams [1]. Fallon O'Connor, previously vice president of communications, moves onto the executive leadership team as head of communications and people [1]. In this newly expanded role, O'Connor directs talent acquisition, employee development, and belonging under a newly established People organisation, though communications and HR operations will remain functionally distinct [1].

Additional operational responsibilities previously handled by the chief business officer have shifted to finance and supply leaders [1]. The Performance and Rewards team and Workplace Operations team will now sit within the finance division, reporting directly to chief financial officer Ellie Mertz [1]. Mertz also absorbs Airbnb's Corporate Development and Strategy departments into finance [1]. Meanwhile, external Partnerships will now report to Hiroki Asai, who serves as global head of supply growth [1].