Airbnb’s High-Profile Executive Vacancies

At a dinner for Airbnb’s board two months ago, the company’s co-founders and investors agreed that executive hiring would be a top priority for the coming year. With several top positions vacant, such as a marketing chief and head of the homes division, top executives have been stretched thin. CEO Brian Chesky even has taken a hands-on role approving ad campaigns, according to people familiar with the matter.

So far, the executive hiring effort doesn’t appear to be making much progress. Last week’s reshuffle at the top, when CFO Laurence Tosi departed and business affairs chief Belinda Johnson was promoted to be chief operating officer, may have made things worse. Ms. Johnson mostly absorbed functions Mr. Tosi oversaw, while his departure created an opening for a CFO. Interim finance chief Ellie Mertz, a former Netflix executive, is respected inside the company but hasn’t taken a company public before, as Airbnb is expected to do in 2019 or 2020. Above is an updated version of Airbnb's org chart and board of directors.